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

It seeks to create a more welcoming environment for conservatives, asking colleges to make governance changes and abolish departments that “purposefully punish, belittle, and even spark violence against conservative ideas.”

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That makes it hard to distinguish rule-breakers from those out sick or traveling for work, so many HR departments dig deeper only if workers miss at least half of their required days.

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Patients are unlikely to receive their first therapies under the law before 2026, while the state’s health department establishes operating and safety standards for new and existing facilities, people involved with the legislation said.

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According to the Labor Department’s shutdown plan, the department will continue to monitor and respond to imminent threats to human life and continue inspections in high-hazard industries.

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Trawling for timely insights on platforms like TikTok, where trends now live and die in a matter of days, takes time and resources that most marketing departments don’t have in-house.

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Related Words

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