Department — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /di-ˈpärt-mənt/ de·part·ment

Meaning & Definition of Department

Department (noun)

  1. a functional or territorial division
  2. a major administrative division of a government
  3. a major territorial administrative subdivision

Department (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a large unit of a governmental, business, or educational organization

    "the Department of the Interior"

    similar: agency, arm, branch, bureau, desk, division, office, service
    related: subdepartment, subdivision

  2. a region of activity, knowledge, or influence

    "that's not my department, but maybe I can help you anyway"

    similar: area, arena, bailiwick, barony, business, circle, demesne, discipline, domain, element, fief, fiefdom, field, firmament, front, game, kingdom, line, precinct, province, realm, specialty, sphere, terrain, walk
    related: frontier, study, subject, territory, turf, occupation, profession, pursuit, racket, vocation, ambit, amplitude, breadth, compass, confine, dimension(s), extent, ken, reach, scope, sweep, width, subfield, subspecialty

Related Entry: Department store (noun)

Department store is a different word from Department. The synonyms below are for department store, not for department.

  1. as in chain store, dime store

    similar: boutique, chain store, dime store, exchange, five-and-ten, mart, mini-mart, thrift shop, variety store, bazaar, emporium, shop, store, market, marketplace, outlet, showroom, big box, supercenter, superstore

Related Entry: Department stores (noun)

Department stores is a different word from Department. The synonyms below are for department stores, not for department.

  1. as in chain stores, dime stores

    similar: boutiques, chain stores, dime stores, exchanges, five-and-tens, marts, mini-marts, thrift shops, variety stores, bazaars, emporiums, shops, stores, marketplaces, markets, outlets, showrooms, big boxes, supercenters, superstores

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Department

The most common words with a similar meaning to Department:

agency, arm, branch, bureau, desk, division, office, service, area, arena, bailiwick, barony, business, circle, demesne, discipline, domain, element, fief, fiefdom, field, firmament, front, game, kingdom, line, precinct, province, realm, specialty, sphere, terrain, walk

Related Words for Department

subdepartment, subdivision, frontier, study, subject, territory, turf, occupation, profession, pursuit, racket, vocation, ambit, amplitude, breadth, compass, confine, dimension(s), extent, ken, reach, scope, sweep, width, subfield, subspecialty

Word Forms of Department

Derived words: departmental (adjective), departmentally (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Department

French département, from Old French, act of dividing, from departir

First known use: circa 1735

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Department

Words & Phrases Containing Department

department store, Department of State, fire department, purchasing department, State Department, the Treasury Department, subdepartment

Frequently Asked Questions about Department

What does "Department" mean?

"Department" means a functional or territorial division. As a noun, it is defined as: a functional or territorial division. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Department"?

Other words for "Department" include agency, arm, branch, bureau, desk, division, office and service. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Department" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Department"?

There are 59 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Department". Common alternatives include agency, arm, branch, bureau, desk, division, office, service, area and arena.

How do you use "Department" in a sentence?

Examples of "Department" in a sentence: "the Department of the Interior"; "that's not my department, but maybe I can help you anyway".

Is "Department" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Department" is a noun.

Is "Department" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Department" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Department"?

"Department" is pronounced /di-ˈpärt-mənt/ and divided into syllables as de·part·ment.

What is the origin of the word "Department"?

"Department" comes from French département, from Old French, act of dividing, from departir. First known use: circa 1735.