Officialdom
“Officialdom” is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as “the domain, sphere, or ways of officials; officials collectively, especially regarded as being inefficient or obstructive.” The word “officialdom” has been cited in print since at least 1861 and is of unknown authorship.
Wiktionary: officialdom
Etymology
official + -dom
Noun
officialdom (countable and uncountable; plural officialdoms)
1. The people elected to government or employed in the civil service
(Oxford English Dictionary)
officialdom, n.
The position of an official; official routine; the domain, sphere, or ways of officials; officials collectively, esp. regarded as being inefficient or obstructive. Cf. officialism n.
1863 Temple Bar July 487 The little man..made an elaborate speech to officialdom, and at me, and led me away.
1880 I. L. Bird Unbeaten Tracks Japan I. 57 The stage, one half of which was reserved for foreigners, the other half for Japanese officialdom.
1884 Liverpool Mercury 22 Oct. 5/6 [He] has burst the bonds of officialdom.
Google News Archive
18 February 1861, The Age (Melbourne, Australia), pg. 5, col. 1:
Both the man of officialdom and his views are shelved.
29 March 1861, The London and China Telegraph (London), pg. 204, col. 2:
From the beginning to the end of them, officialdom in Japan, with persistent folly and wrongheadedness, resolutely refused to go right.
7 January 1863, Evening Bulletin (San Francisco, CA), pg. 1, col. 1:
Letter from London..
[EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.]
LONDON, November 20, 1862.
(...)
... and the translation affords to Downing street a capital opportunity to explode the intense distrust and dislike of the French Government which pervades British officialdom despite their outward semblance of friendship and cordiality.
Google Books
7 August 1863, The Mechanics’ Magazine, pg. 555, col. 1:
Ever since the quondam Newcastle solicitor prevailed over the ordinary coyness of Government officialdom, and received a title, a fortune, and a reputation as a reward for his ingenuity ; like the ” Champion of England,” Sir William Armstrong has had to meet the onslaughts of all comers; ...
26 April 1869, New York (NY) Herald, pg. 10, col. 3:
ST. DOMINGO, April 10, 1869.
There is a wonderful rattling of dry bones among the fossils of Dominican officialdom.
OCLC WorldCat record
The Destruction of Johannesburg, the revenge of the defeated Boer. A forecast, on the authority of Transvaal Officialdom. [With a cartoon inserted. The preface signed: T.F.].
Author: T F
Publisher: Capetown : Colonial Pub. Co., 1900.
Edition/Format: Book : English
OCLC WorldCat record
The blight of officialdom
Author: J S Rubinstein
Publisher: London : Printed by Spottiswoode & Co., 1903.
Edition/Format: Book : English
OCLC WorldCat record
Fighting officialdom : a three years’ battle against police & Home Office persecution
Author: John Syme
Publisher: [London] : published by the author ..., [1913]
Edition/Format: Book : English : Second edition