department

[ dih-pahrt-muhnt ]
See synonyms for: departmentdepartments on Thesaurus.com

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

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

  1. (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.

  2. a division of a business enterprise dealing with a particular area of activity: the personnel department.

  3. a section of a retail store selling a particular class or kind of goods: the sportswear department.

  4. one of the sections of a school or college dealing with a particular field of knowledge: the English department.

  5. one of the large districts into which certain countries, as France, are divided for administrative purposes.

  6. a division of official business, duties, or functions: judicial departments.

  7. a sphere or province of activity, knowledge, or responsibility: Paying the bills is not my department.

  8. (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.

Origin of department

1
First recorded in 1730–35; from French département; equivalent to depart + -ment

Other words for department

Other words from department

  • de·part·men·tal [dih-pahrt-men-tl, dee-pahrt-], /dɪ pɑrtˈmɛn tl, ˌdi pɑrt-/, 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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use department in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for department

department

/ (dɪˈpɑːtmənt) /


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

  1. a branch or subdivision of learning: physics is a department of science

  2. a territorial and administrative division in several countries, such as France

  3. informal a specialized sphere of knowledge, skill, or activity: wine-making is my wife's department

Origin of department

1
C18: from French département, from départir to divide; see depart

Derived forms of department

  • departmental (ˌdiːpɑːtˈmɛntəl), adjective
  • departmentally, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012