point of departure
Americannoun
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Nautical. the precise location of a vessel, established in order to set a course, especially in beginning a voyage in open water.
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a place to begin, as in a discussion, argument, etc.
Etymology
Origin of point of departure
First recorded in 1855–60
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.
One final point of departure for Papic: he disagrees vehemently with the notion that the intervention in Venezuela is bearish for oil prices.
From MarketWatch • Jan. 13, 2026
Let’s finally acknowledge how much we don’t know, and from that new point of departure, do everything we can to save our home.
From Salon • May 1, 2025
Long seen as a point of departure, Anacortes nails the working wharf vibe for all to discover, with no ferry lines required.
From Seattle Times • Nov. 6, 2023
The choreography had a certain angle, a certain point of departure — even a certain splashiness — but it remained less than memorable.
From New York Times • Sep. 28, 2023
The station was similar to their point of departure.
From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead
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.
