department

[ dih-pahrt-muhnt ]

noun

1. a distinct part of anything arranged in divisions; a division of a complex whole or organized system.

   Synonyms: segment, unit, section, bureau, branch

2. one of the principal branches of a governmental organization:

   the sanitation department.

3. (initial capital letter) one of the principal divisions of the U.S. federal government, headed by a secretary who is a member of the president's cabinet.
4. a division of a business enterprise dealing with a particular area of activity:

   the personnel department.

5. a section of a retail store selling a particular class or kind of goods:

   the sportswear department.

6. one of the sections of a school or college dealing with a particular field of knowledge:

   the English department.

7. one of the large districts into which certain countries, as France, are divided for administrative purposes.
8. a division of official business, duties, or functions:

   judicial departments.

9. a sphere or province of activity, knowledge, or responsibility:

   Paying the bills is not my department.

10. (usually initial capital letter) U.S. Army. (formerly) a large geographical division of the U.S. or its possessions as divided for military and defense purposes:

    the Hawaiian Department.

department

/ dɪˈpɑːtmənt; ˌdiːpɑːtˈmɛntəl /

noun

1. a specialized division of a large concern, such as a business, store, or university

   the geography department

2. a major subdivision or branch of the administration of a government
3. a branch or subdivision of learning

   physics is a department of science

4. a territorial and administrative division in several countries, such as France
5. informal.
   a specialized sphere of knowledge, skill, or activity

   wine-making is my wife's department

Derived Forms

• departmental, adjective
• ˌdepartˈmentally, adverb

Other Words From

• de·part·men·tal [dih-pahrt-, men, -tl, dee-pahrt-], adjective
• de·part·mental·ly adverb
• nonde·part·mental adjective
• nonde·part·mental·ly adverb
• prede·part·mental adjective
• subde·partment noun
• subde·part·mental adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of department¹

First recorded in 1730–35; from French département; equivalent to depart + -ment

Word History and Origins

Origin of department¹

C18: from French département, from départir to divide; see depart

Example Sentences

Their friendship began when Krauss, who was chairman of the physics department at Case Western in Cleveland, sought out Epstein.

From The Daily Beast

The “doctorate” Duke claims is from an anti-Semitic Ukranian “diploma mill” as described by the State Department.

From The Daily Beast

Seventy-two adults between the ages of 18 and 50 are participating in the trial, led by the pediatrics department at Oxford.

From The Daily Beast

The State Department found that with high oil prices, the tar sands would be mined for oil, pipeline or no.

From The Daily Beast

The EPA felt that the State Department had not looked carefully enough at the impact of the pipeline if oil prices fell.

From The Daily Beast

At the latter date all artists were obliged to vacate the Sorbonne ateliers to make room for some new department of instruction.

From Project Gutenberg

There is one other department of children's art which clearly does deserve to be studied with some care—their drawing.

From Project Gutenberg

The percentage of reserves to deposits, which marks the safety line for England, refers to the items in the banking department.

From Project Gutenberg

There are many articles in the American department of which I would gladly speak, that have attracted no public notice.

From Project Gutenberg

That's the crushing kind of repertoire he gives his pupils—so exhaustive and complete in every department.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• administration
• agency
• area
• board
• branch
• bureau
• commission
• division
• office
• staff
• station
• unit