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
Synonyms
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
This democratization of experimentation gives employees across departments—whether developers, product managers, or marketers—input into the process.
—Karen Walker, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024
Like many budding fashion professionals, Smith explored various facets of the industry, including writing for Flaunt magazine and working in the Amiri PR department.
—Leah Faye Cooper, Vogue, 21 Oct. 2024
Workwear-ready Flats The concept of workwear has evolved from simply dressing appropriately for the office to becoming a major fall fashion trend, especially in the shoe department.
—Staff Author, Travel + Leisure, 20 Oct. 2024
Even if everyone is invested in the overall success of a product or company, what that may look like may differ when working across departments.
—Natalie Wu, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for department 
Karen Walker, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024
Like many budding fashion professionals, Smith explored various facets of the industry, including writing for Flaunt magazine and working in the Amiri PR department.
—Leah Faye Cooper, Vogue, 21 Oct. 2024
Workwear-ready Flats The concept of workwear has evolved from simply dressing appropriately for the office to becoming a major fall fashion trend, especially in the shoe department.
—Staff Author, Travel + Leisure, 20 Oct. 2024
Even if everyone is invested in the overall success of a product or company, what that may look like may differ when working across departments.
—Natalie Wu, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for department
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'department.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near department
Cite this Entry
“Department.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/department. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share