English

Noun

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.