department
noun
de·part·ment
di-ˈpärt-mənt 
1
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 Keillor2
: 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
Examples 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 city of New Orleans and its police department urged residents and visitors to stay vigilant during the manhunt and report any suspicious activity, WDSU reported.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 19 May 2025
Then, there was no mass exodus, department veterans say.
—Ryan Lucas, NPR, 19 May 2025
Prioritize Communication With Department Heads Prioritizing strong relationships and consistent communication with department heads can help.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
The Kansas City Kansas Fire Department falls short of national standards that recommend departments send out four firefighters per truck and meet a four-minute travel time between station and response scene during at least 90% of incidents called in.
—Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 18 May 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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N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 19 May 2025
Then, there was no mass exodus, department veterans say.
—Ryan Lucas, NPR, 19 May 2025
Prioritize Communication With Department Heads Prioritizing strong relationships and consistent communication with department heads can help.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
The Kansas City Kansas Fire Department falls short of national standards that recommend departments send out four firefighters per truck and meet a four-minute travel time between station and response scene during at least 90% of incidents called in.
—Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 18 May 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 22 May. 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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