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 shooting prompted protests over police use of force, and calls for police to stop foot pursuits altogether until the department overhauls its chase policies.
—Cbs Chicago Team, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
That might be manageable for a Fortune 500 company with a legal department.
—Tom Manzo, Oc Register, 6 Apr. 2026
The long experience and tight teamwork of unionized camera crews, art departments, and so forth from production to production both maintains high professional standards and reinforces long-standing professional norms.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
An environmental unit, an aircraft rescue and firefighting truck, providing foam from the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport were called to the scene, the department said.
—Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for department
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Cbs Chicago Team, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
That might be manageable for a Fortune 500 company with a legal department.
—Tom Manzo, Oc Register, 6 Apr. 2026
The long experience and tight teamwork of unionized camera crews, art departments, and so forth from production to production both maintains high professional standards and reinforces long-standing professional norms.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
An environmental unit, an aircraft rescue and firefighting truck, providing foam from the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport were called to the scene, the department said.
—Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for department
Cite this Entry
“Department.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/department. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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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