/ dɪˈpɑːtmənt; NAmE -ˈpɑːrt-/ noun
( abbr. Dept ) a section of a large organization such as a government, business, university, etc. :
the Department of Trade and Industry
the Treasury Department
a government / university, etc. department
the marketing / sales, etc. department
the children's department (= in a large store)
the English department
—see also police department , the State Department
•
IDIOMS
- be sb's department
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Old French departement , from departir , based on Latin dispertire to divide. The original sense was division or distribution , later separation , hence a separate part (core sense, mid 18th cent.).