# departure

/dɪˈpɑɹtʃɝ/ (US) · /dɪpˈɑːtʃɐ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. leaving a place

noun · CEFR B1

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

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

- The plane's departure was delayed by two hours because of the heavy snow.
- The sudden departure of the CEO sparked intense speculation among shareholders regarding the company's future stability.

### 2. a change from the usual

noun · CEFR B2

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

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

- His new book is a big departure from the detective stories he usually writes.
- The architect's use of sustainable timber represented a radical departure from the concrete-heavy designs typical of the mid-century era.

### 3. legal pleading change

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Formal

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

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

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

### 4. death

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Literary

a polite or formal way to talk about someone dying.

For teachers: a euphemistic reference to a person's death.

- The whole town mourned the departure of the old doctor.
- The poet reflected on the quiet departure of his mentor, framing the loss as a final journey into the unknown.

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

## Examples

- The flight's departure is scheduled for ten in the morning.
- The team's new strategy represents a significant departure from their traditional defensive style of play.
- Passengers are advised to arrive at the terminal three hours before their scheduled departure to allow sufficient time for security screenings and baggage handling.

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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.