die Behörde, -n

The German word "Behörde" is a noun meaning "authority" or "office/agency" (usually a public/government institution).

It is made up from the root "Horde" (old Germanic word related to "group" or "troop", though in modern German, "Horde" usually means a "horde" or "crowd"). In this context, though, "Behörde" itself is a standalone word without separable components conveying the specific meaning.

Words with similar meaning:

• Amt (office, department)
• Verwaltung (administration)
• Dienststelle (department, agency)

Differences:

• Behörde specifically refers to an official government institution with regulatory or administrative authority.
• Amt is often used more broadly for any official office or department.
• Verwaltung refers more generally to administration or management, sometimes the whole apparatus.
• Dienststelle is a more neutral term for any agency or branch of an organization, not necessarily governmental.