Dictionary entries for 'department'

Synonyms

de·part·ment (dĭ-pärt́mənt)

[French département, from Old French, separation, from departir, to divide; see depart.]

noun

A distinct, usually specialized division of a large organization, especially:
1. A principal administrative division of a government: the department of public works.
2. A division of a business specializing in a particular product or service: the personnel department.
3. A division of a school or college dealing with a particular field of knowledge: the physics 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.