English edit

Etymology edit

red tape +‎ -ism

Noun edit

red-tapism (plural red-tapisms)

  1. (derogatory) strict adherence to official formalities.
    • 2004, Ram Nath Sharma, S. S. Chandra, Advanced Industrial Psychology, volume 1, page 110:
      Red-tapism is the biggest defect of bureaucracy. In a bureaucratic set-up, the files and papers move at a snail's pace and it takes inordinately long time to reach any decision on any matter.

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