department
department (dĭ-pärtʹmənt) noun
Abbr. dept., dpt., dep., D.
1. A distinct, usually specialized division of a large organization, especially: a. A principal administrative division of a government: the fire department; the department of public works. b. A division of a business specializing in a particular product or service: the personnel department. c. A division of a school or college dealing with a particular field of knowledge: the physics department.
2. Department One of the principal executive divisions of the federal government of the United States, headed by a cabinet officer.
3. A section of a department store selling a particular line of merchandise: the home furnishings department.
4. An administrative district in France.
5. Informal. An area of particular knowledge or responsibility; a specialty: Getting the kids to bed is my department.
[French département, from Old French, separation, from departir, to divide. See depart.]
departmenʹtal (dēpärt-mĕnʹtl) adjective
departmenʹtally adverb