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

Police departments in those jurisdictions generally do not help ICE carry out street-level arrests, and jails will not hold immigration violators charged with traffic offenses, or in some cases violent felonies. —Nick Miroff The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 8 Dec. 2024

The department has been working with a partial revenue share from the conference over the past two seasons — about $19 million annually — but will begin receiving a full share of about $38-$40 million a year starting in 2025. —Matt Murschel, Orlando Sentinel, 7 Dec. 2024

The agency launched a new email inbox in February for criminal justice authorities to use when reporting crimes and earlier this year sent police departments and state’s attorney’s offices information about the requirement to report charges to IDFPR. —Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 6 Dec. 2024

The Justice Department under the first Trump administration curtailed the use of consent decrees, and the Republican president-elect is expected to again radically reshape the department’s priorities around civil rights. —Adrian Sainz, Jonathan Mattise, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 Dec. 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