department

The definition of a department is a specific division, building, organization or field of knowledge.

(noun)

An example of a department is a faculty group, building and program dedicated to the subject of English in a college.

See department in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

a separate part, division, or branch, as of a government, business, or school: the police department, the accounting department, the history department
a field of knowledge or activity: rewriting is his department
☆ a specialized column or section appearing regularly in a periodical
an administrative district in France, Greece, or certain Latin American countries

Origin: ME & OFr departement < departir: see depart

See department in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A distinct, usually specialized division of a large organization, especially:
a. A principal administrative division of a government: the department of public works.
b. A division of a business specializing in a particular product or service: the personnel department.
c. A division of a school or college dealing with a particular field of knowledge: the physics department.
Department One of the principal executive divisions of the federal government of the United States, headed by a cabinet officer.
A section of a department store selling a particular line of merchandise: the home furnishings department.
An administrative district in France.
A unit of a warship's crew, organized by function, such as gunnery or engineering.
An area of particular knowledge or responsibility; a specialty: Getting the kids to bed is my department.

Origin:

Origin: French département

Origin: , from Old French, separation

Origin: , from departir, to divide; see depart

Related Forms:

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