Department is a noun with a few distinctclearly different from others; not the same meanings. It can refer to a divisiona separate part of a bigger group or system within a larger organization, a field of knowledge or responsibility, or an administrativeconnected with managing rules, records, and government tasks region in some countries. The most common everyday use is the first one.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /dɪˈpɑrtmənt/
Easy pronunciation: dih-PART-ment (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the second syllable: PART.
Use this pronunciation for the noun meaning a specialized division of a large organization.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Department Meaning
a part of an organization that handles a particular job or area
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a specialized division of a large organization
Example: You can find those items in the hardware department.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- section — A close substitute when department means a division of an organization.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Department
Meaning 2
a field of knowledge or responsibility
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a specialized sphere of knowledge
Example: Baking is not my department.
Meaning 3
an administrative region in some countries
Part of speech: noun
Definition: the territorial and administrative division of some countries (such as France)
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Department Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- section
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not confuse department meaning an organization unit with department meaning a field of knowledge.
- In some countries, a department is an administrative region, not a workplace division.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the meaning of department?
Department usually means a division inside a larger organization, such as a store, school, or company.
What are synonyms for department?
A strong synonym for the organizational meaning is section. The other meanings usually do not have a direct everyday synonym in the supplied data.
Is department always about an organization?
No. It can also mean a field of knowledge or responsibility, or an administrative region in some countries.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
