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
Jason Bailey, a 22-year veteran of the department, and officer Joseph Burns, a four-year veteran of the department, returned fire, according to the release.
—Arkansas Online, 10 Sep. 2025
The officer, who worked at two other police agencies, had only been with the Lee’s Summit department for a little more than a year when the incident occurred.
—Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 10 Sep. 2025
In a statement obtained by PEOPLE, the government department revealed how the children were doing following years of hiding in the wilderness.
—Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025
Former Opa-locka mayor Matthew Pigatt and former Miami-Dade County police department director Stephanie Daniels also attended the program.
—Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for department
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Arkansas Online, 10 Sep. 2025
The officer, who worked at two other police agencies, had only been with the Lee’s Summit department for a little more than a year when the incident occurred.
—Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 10 Sep. 2025
In a statement obtained by PEOPLE, the government department revealed how the children were doing following years of hiding in the wilderness.
—Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025
Former Opa-locka mayor Matthew Pigatt and former Miami-Dade County police department director Stephanie Daniels also attended the program.
—Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 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 11 Sep. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share