DictionaryAI

department

noun
di-PART-muhnt/dɪˈpɑɹtmənt/UKdi-PAHT-muhnt/dɪˈpɑːtm(ə)nt/

Pluraldepartments

6 meanings of department

Practice

  1. 1
    divisionnouncountable
    One part of a big organization, like a company, store, school or government, that deals with one kind of work.

    Like one shelf in a big closet that holds just one kind of thing.

    The toy department is on the second floor of the store.

    She works in the sales department at a car company.

    UsageWe say you work in a department: in the sales department.

  2. 2
    aspectnouncountable
    A particular area or quality that someone or something has.

    Our team is great in the speed department, but we still need help on defense.

    The movie was lacking in the humor department.

    UsageUsually after in the: good in the speed department.

    Similararea

    Note
  3. 3
    districtnouncountable
    An area that a country is divided into for government, like the ones in France.

    Like a county inside a country, with its own local officials.

    Her family lives in a small department in southern France.

    Each department has its own local government.

    Similarprovince, district

    Note

Less common meanings

  1. 4
    fieldnouncountable
    A certain area of life, work, or study.

    Cooking is not really my department.

    Fixing cars is his department, not mine.

    UsageOften my department or his department. Not my department means it is not your responsibility or not something you know much about.

    Similarresponsibility, area, domain, sphere, field

    Note
  2. 5
    nounhistoricalcountable
    A military area that a country was divided into.

    Like splitting a country into zones, each with its own soldiers.

    The general commanded the western department during the war.

    The fort was part of a military department that covered several states.

    Similarcommand

    Note
  3. 6
    nounobsolete
    The act of leaving or going away.
    Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of department apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

It comes through Middle English and French. It is related to the French word département.

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 2 facts