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),  (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

Other Word Forms

• departmental adjective
• departmentally adverb
• nondepartmental adjective
• nondepartmentally adverb
• predepartmental adjective
• subdepartment noun
• subdepartmental 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

Days for Dietz and members of his team now routinely stretch to 12 or 14 hours as they confront issues that don’t normally arise in city legal departments.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Single-stair skeptics say New York City and Seattle, with their large, professional fire departments, are not representative of much of the rest of the country.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

On average just one out of three UGVs manages to reach the city, says Ihor, from the unmanned systems department of the 7th Corps.

Read more on BBC

After a rough stretch in court, there are at least three different ways the department’s case against Comey could be upended, if not dismissed outright, in the coming weeks.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But the department kept that information hidden from the public.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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