faculty

[fak-uhl-tee]

noun

plural

faculties 

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 Word Forms

• interfaculty noun
• profaculty adjective
• underfaculty noun

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

Although it’s not a part of federal demands to UCLA, some Jewish faculty have asked the campus to adopt the definition.

From Los Angeles Times

Even financially well-endowed universities would find it hard to justify paying $100,000 to import a faculty member from abroad.

From Los Angeles Times

Both faculty and students are mincing their words in class and approaching their discussions with caution for fear of being reported, said Wright State University junior Rochelle Woodson.

From Salon

It is also similar to a settlement the university reached in July with Jewish students and faculty who sued over the 2024 encampment, alleging it illegally blocked Jews from access.

From Los Angeles Times

We clutch the pearls of pseudo-science and wisdom we glean from our favorite poisoned well of journalism while our critical faculties erode.

From Salon

Related Words

• department 
• institute 
• personnel 
• staff 
• university