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
Garrison Keillor2
: 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
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
Holy Name also has a maternal-fetal medicine department where high-risk practitioners are on-call should they be needed.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025
Meyer, a captain of Truck 29, joined the department in 1996 and spent most of his nearly 30-year career on the West Side.
—Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2025
There is likely to be five or six players making up the centre back department next season.
—Simon Johnson, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025
On March 20, Trump ordered Education Secretary Linda McMahon to begin dismantling the department to the extent that she’s authorized to do so.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for department
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025
Meyer, a captain of Truck 29, joined the department in 1996 and spent most of his nearly 30-year career on the West Side.
—Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2025
There is likely to be five or six players making up the centre back department next season.
—Simon Johnson, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025
On March 20, Trump ordered Education Secretary Linda McMahon to begin dismantling the department to the extent that she’s authorized to do so.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for department
Cite this Entry
“Department.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/department. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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