department

noun

di-ˈpärt-mənt How to pronounce department (audio)
Definition of departmentnext
1
as in agency
a large unit of a governmental, business, or educational organization the Department of the Interior

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in area
a region of activity, knowledge, or influence that's not my department, but maybe I can help you anyway

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of department The longer version is available internally for department employees, but the Sheriff’s Office also posted a roughly 90-second video on Instagram, which includes the recipe. — Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 July 2026 Treasury responded but did not address GAO's recommendation that the department develop a government-wide fraud estimation methodology. — Brett Rowland The Center Square, Arkansas Online, 5 July 2026 The officer immediately reported what happened to the department's Internal Affairs Bureau, the outlets reported. — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 5 July 2026 Eight Boise Fire Department units and the Ada County Paramedics responded to the fire in the 4000 block of South Northbridge Way, according to the department. — Emily Carmela Nelson, Idaho Statesman, 5 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for department
Recent Examples of Synonyms for department
  1. agency
  2. area
  3. office
  4. realm
  5. bureau
  6. domain
  7. field
  8. element
Noun
  • The average time for an applicant to be on-duty is now 326 days for special agents and 256 days for police officers, the agency said.
    — Bart Jansen, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • Three of the reports stemmed from consumers swallowing the metal pieces and seeking medical treatment to remove them from their digestive tract or throat, the agency said.
    — Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
Definition of agency
Noun
  • The warning sign against Japan came when Casemiro picked up a yellow card in the 14th minute for a clumsy foul on the edge of the area.
    — Mark Carey, New York Times, 6 July 2026
  • Wildlife officials caught and euthanized two alligators in the area, which measured 12 feet and 13 feet.
    — Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Definition of area
Noun
  • The governor faced mass backlash from activists across the country for his office's statement.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
  • From new state laws hitting the books to a state worker's returning to office, Sacramento saw a busy news day Wednesday.
    — Ruyuan Li. Summary produced by AI assistance, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of office
Noun
  • What if Baahubali dies and has to go through the 14 realms of the afterlife in Indian mythology?
    — Rafael Motamayor, IndieWire, 30 June 2026
  • He’s transported to a realm of Tolkienesque fantasy, deposited somewhere between the Stony Waste and the Frozen Sea.
    — Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026
Definition of realm
Noun
  • Offers three credit bureau monitoring, VPN, dark web monitoring, password manager, email aliases and instant credit lock.
    — Brian Sloan,Dan Avery, CNBC, 6 July 2026
  • According to the bureau, which is conducting the investigation, the National Guard soldiers involved in the shooting are assigned to the Memphis Safe Task Force.
    — Suzanne Gamboa, NBC news, 6 July 2026
Definition of bureau
Noun
  • The first, Victus Nox, was launched by Firefly Aerospace in September 2023, and was focused on space domain awareness capabilities.
    — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 3 July 2026
  • Both varieties are now in the public domain and can be grown and sold by anyone.
    — Claire Rush, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
Definition of domain
Noun
  • Unlike traditional sports chants, Jama blends music, rhythm and movement into an expression of community that exists well beyond the soccer field.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 3 July 2026
  • The referee on the field, Raphael Claus, has previously been investigated for match fixing in Brazil, though of course, there's no indication that this was a motivating factor in this case.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
Definition of field
Noun
  • The space is a balance between tropical escape and late-night lounge, with moody lighting, sexy design elements and music that keeps the energy elevated throughout the evening.
    — Blair Crosby, AJC.com, 5 July 2026
  • The Samba sneakers add a sporty element, while proving to be comfortable and easy to walk around in around New York City.
    — Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 5 July 2026
Definition of element

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departing
department
departments
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Cite this Entry

“Department.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/department. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on department

Nglish: Translation of department for Spanish Speakers

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