departure

[dih-pahr-cher]

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.

departure

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• nondeparture noun
• predeparture noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of departure¹

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

Example Sentences

Wagner, who had signed a contract over the summer that runs through 2028, expressed disappointment at the decision in a statement announcing his departure "by mutual agreement".

Read more on Barron's

It’s not technically a departure from Gaffigan’s brand of clean comedy.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But sometimes that meant his aides had the job of risk management, having to explain statements that appeared to be a departure from what the Pope had previously said or a diplomatic faux pas.

Read more on BBC

There was leadership, Iamaleava telling teammates that if they wanted to leave amid the dismissal of their head coach and the departure of their offensive coordinator, go ahead.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"And the most important player for us, without lacking respect for Antoine, was Pita's departure as we're going to miss him so much."

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

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