departure
Americannoun
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an act or instance of departing.
the time of departure; a hasty departure.
- Synonyms:
- leave-taking, exit, going, leaving
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divergence or deviation, as from a standard, rule, etc..
a departure from accepted teaching methods.
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Navigation.
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the distance due east or west traveled by a vessel or aircraft.
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Surveying. the length of the projection, on the east-west reference line, of a survey line.
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Archaic. death.
noun
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the act or an instance of departing
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a deviation or variation from previous custom; divergence
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a project, course of action, venture, etc
selling is a new departure for him
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nautical
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the net distance travelled due east or west by a vessel
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Also called: point of departure. the latitude and longitude of the point from which a vessel calculates dead reckoning
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a euphemistic word for death
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of departure
1375–1425; late Middle English < Old French departëure; compare Anglo-French departir (noun use of infinitive). See depart, -ure
Explanation
A departure is the act of leaving somewhere. Think about an airport that has departure gates for outgoing passengers and an arrival area for people flying in. Since departing means to leave, a departure is an act of leaving. There are many type of departures, such as when you go to the store or take a flight. A departure can be a metaphor too, as in a departure from the norm, like if a TV cop show suddenly turns into a vampire show. If a comedian starts being serious, that's a departure too. This word is also a euphemism for death, as in "a departure from life."
Vocabulary lists containing departure
Bless Me, Ultima
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Greetings, World Traveler! — List 2
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for May 14–May 20, 2022
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Not only did Sir Keir Starmer set out a timetable for his departure but the biggest potential rival to Andy Burnham, Wes Streeting, folded and endorsed the former mayor of Greater Manchester.
From BBC • Jun. 22, 2026
As shocking as May’s departure was on Monday, there is precedent for things working out just fine.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 22, 2026
His departure came just a few years after he returned to Google from the startup Character.AI as part of a $2.7 billion deal between the companies.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 22, 2026
It’s not clear whether Carvalho’s departure comes with a negotiated settlement.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 22, 2026
We stayed a day at Mannheim, and on the fifth from our departure from Strasburgh, arrived at Mainz.
From "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
