department

noun

de·​part·​ment di-ˈpärt-mənt 

1

a

: a distinct sphere : province

that's not my department

b

: a category consisting especially of a measurable activity or attribute

lacking in the trustworthiness department

—Garrison Keillor

2

: a functional or territorial division: such as

a

: a major administrative division of a government

b

: a major territorial administrative subdivision

c

: a division of a college or school giving instruction in a particular subject

d

: a major division of a business

e

: a section of a department store handling a particular kind of merchandise

f

: a territorial subdivision made for the administration and training of military units

departmental

di-ˌpärt-ˈmen-tᵊl 

ˌdē-

adjective

departmentally

di-ˌpärt-ˈmen-tə-lē 

ˌdē-

adverb

Synonyms

• agency
• arm
• branch
• bureau
• desk
• division
• office
• service

Examples of department in a Sentence

Your letter has been forwarded to our sales department.

When you get to the hospital, go directly to the X-ray department.

the university's math and science departments

the department of modern languages

She joined the town's police department.

Recent Examples on the Web

But then hours later, the sheriff's department went back to the family's home near the North Carolina border, where Patterson was handcuffed, arrested, booked on suspicion of reckless conduct and forced to post $500 bail. —David K. Li, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024

Although the exact dates of its arrival and discovery are unclear, the penny-sized bit of rock somehow found its way into a Purdue University biology department desk drawer, where faculty uncovered it in 1929. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 14 Nov. 2024

San Francisco police are asking that anyone with information about the stabbing to call the department tip line at 415-575-444 or text a tip to Tip 411 and begin the text with SFPD. Staff writer Harry Harris contributed to this report. —Rick Hurd, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024

The closure affects all 263 workers at the East La Palma Avenue facility from Dec. 23-27, according to a filing with California’s employment department. —Pat Maio, Orange County Register, 11 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French département, from Old French, act of dividing, from departir

First Known Use

1735, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing department

• department store
• fire department
• purchasing department
• sub-department

Kids Definition

department

noun

de·​part·​ment di-ˈpärt-mənt 

1

: a distinct area of interest or activity

taking care of the cat is not my department

2

a

: a major administrative division of a government or business

b

: a major territorial administrative division

c

: a division of a college or school giving instruction in a particular subject

d

: a section of a department store

departmental

di-ˌpärt-ˈment-ᵊl 

ˌdē-

adjective

departmentally

-ᵊl-ē 

adverb