a specialized division of a large concern, such as a business, store, or university: the geography department a major subdivision or branch of the administration of a government a branch or subdivision of learning: physics is a department of science a territorial and administrative division in several countries, such as France a specialized sphere of knowledge, skill, or activity: household budgeting is my wife's department
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
de•part•ment /dɪˈpɑrtmənt/USA pronunciation
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- a part of a larger structure; a division or branch, as of business:assigned to a new department.
- [usually singular] one's special area of activity, expertise, or responsibility:Tax questions are just not my department.
de•part•ment
(di pärt′mənt),USA pronunciation n.
de•part•men•tal
(di pärt men′tl, dē′pärt-),USA pronunciation adj.
de•part•men′tal•ly, adv.
- a distinct part of anything arranged in divisions; a division of a complex whole or organized system.
- Governmentone of the principal branches of a governmental organization:the sanitation department.
- Government(cap.) one of the principal divisions of the U.S. federal government, headed by a Secretary who is a member of the President's cabinet.
- Businessa division of a business enterprise dealing with a particular area of activity:the personnel department.
- Businessa section of a retail store selling a particular class or kind of goods:the sportswear department.
- Educationone of the sections of a school or college dealing with a particular field of knowledge:the English department.
- Governmentone of the large districts into which certain countries, as France, are divided for administrative purposes.
- a division of official business, duties, or functions:judicial departments.
- a sphere or province of activity, knowledge, or responsibility:Paying the bills is not my department.
- Military(usually cap.) [U.S. Army.](formerly) a large geographical division of the U.S. or its possessions as divided for military and defense purposes:the Hawaiian Department.
- French département, equivalent. to départ(ir) (see depart) + -ment -ment
- 1730–35
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged branch, bureau, section, unit, segment.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'Treasury Department' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):