faculty

[ fak-uhl-tee ]

noun

, plural fac·ul·ties.

1. an ability, natural or acquired, for a particular kind of action:

   a faculty for making friends easily.

   Synonyms: skill, potential, knack, aptitude, capacity

2. one of the powers of the mind, as memory, reason, or speech:

   Though very sick, he is in full possession of all his faculties.

3. an inherent capability of the body:

   the faculties of sight and hearing.

4. exceptional ability or aptitude:

   a president with a faculty for management.

5. Education.
   1. the entire teaching and administrative force of a university, college, or school.
   2. one of the departments of learning, as theology, medicine, or law, in a university.
   3. the teaching body, sometimes with the students, in any of these departments.
6. the members of a learned profession:

   the medical faculty.

7. a power or privilege conferred by the state, a superior, etc.:

   The police were given the faculty to search the building.

8. Ecclesiastical. a dispensation, license, or authorization.

faculty

/ ˈfækəltɪ /

noun

1. one of the inherent powers of the mind or body, such as reason, memory, sight, or hearing
2. any ability or power, whether acquired or inherent
3. a conferred power or right
4. 1. a department within a university or college devoted to a particular branch of knowledge
   2. the staff of such a department
   3. all the teaching staff at a university, college, school, etc
5. all members of a learned profession
6. archaic.
   occupation

Other Words From

• inter·facul·ty noun plural interfaculties adjective
• pro·facul·ty adjective
• under·facul·ty noun plural underfaculties

Word History and Origins

Origin of faculty¹

1350–1400; Middle English faculte < Anglo-French, Middle French < Latin facultāt- (stem of facultās ) ability, power, equivalent to facil ( is ) easy ( facile ) + -tāt- -ty ²; facility

Word History and Origins

Origin of faculty¹

C14 (in the sense: department of learning): from Latin facultās capability; related to Latin facilis easy

Synonym Study

See ability.

Example Sentences

Some faculty and students, for instance, want to eliminate police from campus entirely and use trained civilian mediators instead to address problems — using outside law enforcement to handle serious crimes.

From Los Angeles Times

Two separate faculty task forces trying to address the issues have come to different conclusions.

From Los Angeles Times

“I am just shocked that in 2024 we have a report which alleges extensive antisemitism affecting Jewish students, faculty and staff at really one of the most prestigious universities in the world,” said Regent Rich Leib.

From Los Angeles Times

Leib also criticized faculty leaders in the Academic Senate.

From Los Angeles Times

“This report clearly delineates numerous and frequent instances of faculty who violated the rules and joined the encampments or made comments in their classrooms that were not consistent with rules ... yet the report indicates that not one faculty member was disciplined by the Academic Senate. That seems intolerable to me and has to change,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• department
• institute
• personnel
• staff
• university