Department: meaning, definitions and examples

Useful in a formal business or governmental context to describe a major functional unit within an organization.

• She works in the human resources department
• The marketing department launched a new campaign

Appropriate for larger organizations to describe a significant and often independent operational unit, usually involved in a broad function. It can sometimes imply higher autonomy than 'department'.

• He leads the company's logistics division
• The research division is working on next-generation technology

Best used for indicating a smaller, often more specialized part of a department or division within an organization.

• She is responsible for the training section of the HR department
• This section handles customer complaints

Suitable for describing a local office or a smaller, semi-independent part of a larger organization, often geographically distant from the main office.

• I visited the bank's branch in downtown
• The company has opened a new branch in Asia

A specific and specialized division within a larger organization, often used in the context of businesses, hospitals, or universities.

• She works in the marketing department at the company.
• The history department is hosting a guest lecture next week.

Refers to all the teachers and professors at an educational institution, or a division within a university that groups together related academic departments.

• The faculty of the university will meet to discuss the new curriculum.
• She is a member of the faculty of arts and sciences.

Can refer broadly to any educational institution or specifically to a division within a college or university that focuses on a major field of study.

• She goes to a private school.
• The School of Medicine is renowned for its research work.

An institution of higher education that offers undergraduate programs, and sometimes graduate programs. It can also refer to a division within a university that focuses on a particular field of study.

• He decided to attend a liberal arts college.
• The College of Engineering is known for its excellent research facilities.