department

1 of 2

noun

de·​part·​ment di-ˈpärt-mənt 

1

: 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

2

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

departmental

di-ˌpärt-ˈmen-tᵊl 

ˌdē-

adjective

departmentally

di-ˌpärt-ˈmen-tə-lē 

ˌdē-

adverb

departmental

2 of 2

adjective

de·​part·​men·​tal də̇¦pärt¦mentᵊl 

-pȧt-, 

dē¦-, 

¦dēˌp-

: of or relating to a department

departmentally

-ntᵊlē 

-li

adverb

Synonyms of department

Noun

• agency
• office
• bureau

Examples of department in a Sentence

Noun

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

Noun

According to the bill, the state would have to produce an annual average salary report for the 20 local departments that Cal Fire is stacked against and make sure state firefighter pay is within 15% of that average. — Evelyn Ronan, Sacbee.com, 25 June 2026

The lawsuit is part of the department's recognition of June 2026 as the second annual Title IX Month. — Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 25 June 2026

Our team of shopping experts handpicked the absolute best deals in every department, which include big-ticket gems like Apple AirPods and Dyson vacuums, plus affordable fashion staples like $16 stretchy work pants and $13 comfy flip-flops for summer. — Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 25 June 2026

The crisis grew so acute a decade ago that the department established strike forces of FBI and Health and Human Services agents in hotspots such as Miami, Houston and Los Angeles. — Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 24 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1735, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing department

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

Rhymes for department

• apartment
• compartment
• departement

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