one of the inherent powers of the mind or body, such as reason, memory, sight, or hearing any ability or power, whether acquired or inherent a conferred power or right a department within a university or college devoted to a particular branch of knowledge the staff of such a department all the teaching staff at a university, college, school, etc all members of a learned profession
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
fac•ul•ty /ˈfækəlti/USA pronunciation
n. [countable], pl. -ties.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- an ability for a particular kind of action:He has a faculty for putting people at their ease.
- one of the powers of the mind, such as memory, reason, or speech:He is 90 years old but still has most of his faculties.
- Educationone of the departments of learning, such as theology, medicine, or law, in a university:the medical faculty.
- the people who teach at a university or college: [plural]The faculty sat as a group.[singular]The faculty is paid well.
fac•ul•ty
(fak′əl tē),USA pronunciation n., pl. -ties.
- an ability, natural or acquired, for a particular kind of action:a faculty for making friends easily.
- one of the powers of the mind, as memory, reason, or speech:Though very sick, he is in full possession of all his faculties.
- an inherent capability of the body:the faculties of sight and hearing.
- exceptional ability or aptitude:a president with a faculty for management.
- Education
- the entire teaching and administrative force of a university, college, or school.
- one of the departments of learning, as theology, medicine, or law, in a university.
- Educationthe teaching body, sometimes with the students, in any of these departments.
- the members of a learned profession:the medical faculty.
- a power or privilege conferred by the state, a superior, etc.:The police were given the faculty to search the building.
- Religion[Eccles.]a dispensation, license, or authorization.
- Latin facultāt- (stem of facultās) ability, power, equivalent. to facil(is) easy (see facile) + -tāt- -ty2; compare facility
- Anglo-French, Middle French
- Middle English faculte 1350–1400
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged capacity, aptitude, knack, potential, skill. See ability.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::