departure

American  

[dih-pahr-cher] / dɪˈpɑr tʃər /

noun

1. an act or instance of departing.

   the time of departure; a hasty departure.

   Synonyms:

   leave-taking, exit, going, leaving

2. divergence or deviation, as from a standard, rule, etc..

   a departure from accepted teaching methods.

3. Navigation.

   1. the distance due east or west traveled by a vessel or aircraft.

   2. point of departure.

4. Surveying. the length of the projection, on the east-west reference line, of a survey line.

5. Archaic. death.

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departure British  

/ dɪˈpɑːtʃə /

noun

1. the act or an instance of departing

2. a deviation or variation from previous custom; divergence

3. a project, course of action, venture, etc

   selling is a new departure for him

4. nautical

   1. the net distance travelled due east or west by a vessel

   2. Also called: point of departure.  the latitude and longitude of the point from which a vessel calculates dead reckoning

5. a euphemistic word for death

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Other Word Forms

• nondeparture noun
• predeparture noun

Etymology

Origin of departure

1375–1425; late Middle English < Old French departëure; compare Anglo-French departir (noun use of infinitive). See depart, -ure

Example Sentences

U-Haul data showed that there was a pretty even split between arrivals and departures.

From Los Angeles Times

Former boss Maresca had been trying to address the issue before his departure.

From BBC

But Iraola has generally done well with minimising the impact of such departures.

From BBC

They mark a departure from earlier federal dietary advice—for instance, recommending full-fat dairy foods and cooking with butter and beef tallow.

From The Wall Street Journal

She was an accomplished doctor who knew nothing of her husband’s double life until the eve of their departure.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• escape
• evacuation
• exit
• exodus
• flight
• passage
• removal
• retirement
• retreat
• separation
• takeoff
• walkout
• withdrawal