# department

/dɪˈpɑɹtmənt/ (US) · /dɪpˈɑːtmənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/department
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. business or organization unit

noun · CEFR A2

one of the sections in a large company, shop, or organization.

For teachers: a specialized division within a business, retail establishment, or organization that handles a specific task or product line.

- If you have a problem with your bill, please call the accounting department.
- The marketing department is collaborating closely with the product designers to ensure the new campaign aligns with the brand's updated aesthetic.

### 2. academic branch

noun · CEFR B1 · Academic

a division in a university or college that teaches a specific subject.

For teachers: an administrative unit within a university or college dedicated to a specific field of study or research.

- She is a professor in the history department at the local university.
- The physics department recently secured a significant grant to upgrade its laboratory facilities for quantum research.

### 3. government branch

noun · CEFR B1

a large part of a government that deals with one area of public life.

For teachers: a major administrative division of a national or regional government.

- The Department of Education announced new rules for student loans today.
- The Department of Justice launched an investigation into the merger to determine if it violated any antitrust regulations.

### 4. administrative district

noun · CEFR B2

a specific area or district of a country used for local government, especially in France.

For teachers: a territorial administrative division of a country, most notably the 'département' in the French administrative system.

- We spent our summer holiday traveling through the different departments of southern France.
- Each French department is headed by a prefect who represents the central government at the local level.

### 5. area of expertise

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a person's special area of knowledge or responsibility.

For teachers: an informal reference to an individual's particular sphere of activity, expertise, or responsibility.

- I can help you with the writing, but fixing the computer is my brother's department.
- While I can offer advice on the overall strategy, the technical implementation is very much Sarah's department.

## Examples

- She works in the marketing department.
- If you need to buy a new sofa, you should visit the furniture department on the third floor.
- The university's history department recently secured a significant grant to digitize its collection of medieval manuscripts for public access.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.