functionary

From French fonctionnaire; by surface analysis, function +‎ -ary.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈfʌŋ(k).ʃn̩.(ə)ri/

• Audio (UK):

  (file)

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈfʌŋ(k).ʃəˌnɛ.ri/
• Hyphenation: func‧tion‧ary, func‧tio‧na‧ry

functionary (plural functionaries)

2. A person employed as an official in a bureaucracy (usually corporate or governmental) who holds limited authority and primarily serves to carry out a simple function for which discretion is minimal or not required.

   Near-synonyms: bureaucrat; official; officer; administrator; apparatchik

   • 1987 December 10, Antony Jay, Jonathan Lynn, “Official Secrets (Yes, Prime Minister)”, in Yes, Prime Minister, season 2, episode 2, spoken by Humphrey Appleby (Nigel Hawthorne):

     Consciences are for politicians, Bernard! We are humble functionaries whose duty it is to implement the commands of our democratically elected representatives.

4. Such a person who is petty, pedantic, short-sighted, uncaring, or counterproductive; sometimes also with implication of being amoral or corrupt.

   Near-synonyms: bureaucrat, apparatchik; paper-pusher; bean counter