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
While the full scope of the firings wasn’t clear, some of the departments affected included the agency’s Office of Communications and the Center for Mental Health Services, where dozens were let go from multiple areas, according to one of the employees.
—Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2025
What To Know The federal government shutdown entered its 13th day on Tuesday, with lawmakers on Capitol Hill still unable to reach an agreement to reopen departments and restart services, which remain suspended to heavily reduced.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
The shutdown will end when Congress passes and Trump signs an appropriations bill to fund the federal departments and agencies currently shut down.
—Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 14 Oct. 2025
The affected Guardsmen were returned to their home station, though the department did not specify the reasoning for their removals.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 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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Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2025
What To Know The federal government shutdown entered its 13th day on Tuesday, with lawmakers on Capitol Hill still unable to reach an agreement to reopen departments and restart services, which remain suspended to heavily reduced.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
The shutdown will end when Congress passes and Trump signs an appropriations bill to fund the federal departments and agencies currently shut down.
—Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 14 Oct. 2025
The affected Guardsmen were returned to their home station, though the department did not specify the reasoning for their removals.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 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 22 Oct. 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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