departure

noun

de·​par·​ture di-ˈpär-chər 

1

a(1)

: the act or an instance of departing

(2)

archaic : death

b

: a setting out (as on a new course)

2

: a new or different way of doing something : divergence sense 2

a departure from tradition

Synonyms of departure

• departing
• exodus
• flight
• evacuation
• leave
• withdrawal
• going
• exiting
• parting
• exit

Examples of departure in a Sentence

What is your time of departure?

You should plan to arrive at the airport an hour before departure.

a schedule of arrivals and departures

The departures of several key employees have caused problems for the company.

her sudden departure from the company

The team has struggled since the departure of its head coach.

His previous movies have all been comedies, so this dramatic role is a real departure for him.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Last Photograph is daring departure for Zack Snyder from his typical filmmaking, creating a more intimate story anchored in photography and brought to life by his striking cinematography and Hans Zimmer’s musical score. — Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026

In a departure from the past, Chiuri today is in charge of Fendi’s men’s and women’s collections as well as couture. — Wwd Staff, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2026

Even so, using the weekly values is a slight departure from the norm. — Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2026

While many rumors swirled following Grande and Bailey’s departures about recasting (Jessie Buckley? — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 14 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Phrases Containing departure

• departure/arrival time
• point of departure
• pre-departure

Rhymes for departure

• marcher

Kids Definition

departure

noun

de·​par·​ture di-ˈpär-chər 

1

: the act of going away

2

: a setting out (as on a new course)

3

: a change from a usual course or standard

a departure from tradition

Legal Definition

departure

noun

de·​par·​ture

: a failure to follow : a deviation from a course or standard

an upward departure from the sentencing guidelines