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departure

n.
US //dɪˈpɑɹtʃɝ// UK //dɪpˈɑːtʃɐ// de·par·ture
  1. 1 leaving a place (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the act of leaving a place, especially to start a journey.

    the act of leaving a location, typically at the commencement of a journey.

    Example

    The plane's departure was delayed by two hours because of the heavy snow.

    Example

    The sudden departure of the CEO sparked intense speculation among shareholders regarding the company's future stability.
  2. 2 a change from the usual (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a way of doing something that is different from what is usual or expected.

    a divergence or deviation from a previously established plan, tradition, or standard procedure.

    Example

    His new book is a big departure from the detective stories he usually writes.

    Example

    The architect's use of sustainable timber represented a radical departure from the concrete-heavy designs typical of the mid-century era.
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  1. 3 legal pleading change (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Formal Law

    in law, when someone changes their story or argument from what they said before.

    the abandonment of a ground of complaint or defence in a legal pleading and the adoption of a new one.

    Example

    The lawyer was accused of a departure because his new argument contradicted his first one.

    Example

    The court found that the plaintiff's amended claim constituted a departure from the original pleadings, causing significant prejudice to the defence.

    Usage

    Usually refers to a procedural error in written legal arguments.
  2. 4 death (n.)
    C1 Advanced Formal Literary

    a polite or formal way to talk about someone dying.

    a euphemistic reference to a person's death.

    Example

    The whole town mourned the departure of the old doctor.

    Example

    The poet reflected on the quiet departure of his mentor, framing the loss as a final journey into the unknown.

    Teacher's tip

    This is a very soft, formal way to speak; in modern conversation, 'passing' is more common.
Origin

From Old French deporteure (“departure; figuratively, death”). By surface analysis, depart + -ure.

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