plural departures
1
: the act of departing: such as
a
: the act of leaving a place especially to start a journey
What is your time of departure?
Our departure is scheduled for 5 p.m. = Our departure time is 5 p.m.
They had to postpone (their) departure because of bad weather.
You should plan to arrive at the airport an hour before departure.
the ferry's departure point
a schedule of arrivals and departures
b
: the act of leaving a job, an organization, etc.
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.
2
: a new or different way of doing something
His previous movies have all been comedies, so this dramatic role is a real departure for him.
—often + fromThese new techniques are major/dramatic/radical departures from standard practices.
a departure from tradition
Cite this Entry
“Departure.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/departure. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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