department
noun
de·part·ment
di-ˈpärt-mənt 
1
: 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
2
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 KeillorExamples 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
The person killed was a railroad worker, according to Jhonathan Castillo Gonzalez, a captain with the Cuzco police department.
—CNN Money, 31 Dec. 2025
The Associated Press reported that the person who died was a railroad employee, according to Jhonathan Castillo Gonzalez, a captain with the Cuzco police department, who said rail service was suspended along the route connecting Machu Picchu with the nearby city of Cuzco following the crash.
—Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 31 Dec. 2025
Beginning Wednesday, New Year’s Eve, the police departments of Miami Beach, Surfisde and Bal Harbour will be enacting temporary traffic patterns.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 31 Dec. 2025
Researchers at the University of Helsinki’s chemistry department have created a novel material that captures carbon dioxide directly from ambient air, without reacting with other atmospheric gases and without extreme heat.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 30 Dec. 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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CNN Money, 31 Dec. 2025
The Associated Press reported that the person who died was a railroad employee, according to Jhonathan Castillo Gonzalez, a captain with the Cuzco police department, who said rail service was suspended along the route connecting Machu Picchu with the nearby city of Cuzco following the crash.
—Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 31 Dec. 2025
Beginning Wednesday, New Year’s Eve, the police departments of Miami Beach, Surfisde and Bal Harbour will be enacting temporary traffic patterns.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 31 Dec. 2025
Researchers at the University of Helsinki’s chemistry department have created a novel material that captures carbon dioxide directly from ambient air, without reacting with other atmospheric gases and without extreme heat.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 30 Dec. 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 31 Dec. 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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