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department

Pronunciation: /dɪˈpɑːtm(ə)nt/

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Definition of department

noun

  • a division of a large organization such as a government, university, or business, dealing with a specific area of activity:the council’s finance department
  • an administrative district in France and other countries: the turnout was particularly low in rural departments
  • (one's department) informal an area of special expertise or responsibility:that’s not my department
  • [with modifier] informal a specified aspect or quality:he was a bit lacking in the height department

Origin:

late Middle English: from Old French departement, from departir (see depart). The original sense was 'division or distribution', later 'separation', hence 'a separate part' (core sense, mid 18th century)

department in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of department in the US English dictionary

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