# faculty

/ˈfækəɫti/ (US) · /fˈækəltˌi/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. natural ability

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a natural power or ability of your mind or body, such as the ability to see, hear, or think clearly.

For teachers: an inherent mental or physical power or capability. Often used in the plural to refer to one's cognitive or sensory functions.

- Even at the age of ninety, he still had all his mental faculties.
- The patient's physical faculties remained intact, though his cognitive processing had slowed significantly following the incident.

### 2. university department

noun · CEFR B2

a large department in a university that focuses on one area of study, like the Faculty of Law.

For teachers: a primary division or department within a university or college, typically organised by subject area.

- She is a professor in the Faculty of Science.
- The Faculty of Arts and Humanities recently received a substantial grant to digitise its historical archives.

### 3. academic staff

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

the group of teachers and researchers who work at a college or university.

For teachers: the collective body of academic staff, including professors and researchers, at an educational institution.

- The university faculty voted to change the exam schedule.
- The dean met with the faculty to discuss the proposed changes to the undergraduate curriculum for the upcoming academic year.

Usage: In American English, 'faculty' refers to the people; in British English, it more commonly refers to the department.

Teaching tip: Learners should note that in the US, 'faculty' is often treated as a collective noun that can take a singular or plural verb.

## Examples

- The university faculty voted to change the exam schedule.
- After the lecture, several members of the faculty stayed behind to answer questions from the graduate students.
- Despite his advanced age, he remained in full possession of his mental faculties and continued to contribute original research to the department.

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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.