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Departments Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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departments

[dษชหˆpษ‘หrtmษ™nts ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Noun

in an organization

A distinct section of a government or business organization with a particular function; a division.

Synonyms

branch, division, section.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
departments

Used in larger organizations or institutions to refer to specialized units or groups focusing on specific functions or areas.

  • The marketing and sales departments work closely together
  • The university has separate departments for physics and chemistry
division

Used primarily in larger organizations to refer to major functional units that are bigger than departments, often encompassing multiple departments.

  • The company's technology division is expanding rapidly
  • She transferred from the financial division to the operations division
section

Typically used to refer to smaller subdivisions or parts of a department or branch, focusing on very specific tasks or functions.

  • The research section of the company has achieved significant advancements
  • He works in the customer service section
branch

Typically refers to a local office or outlet in a different location from the main office. This term is common in banking, retail, and government services.

  • I need to visit the bank branch in the city center
  • The company has opened a new branch in Mexico

Examples of usage

  • The marketing department is responsible for promoting the company's products.
  • She works in the human resources department.
  • Each department has its own budget and responsibilities.
Context #2 | Noun

in a store

A specialized division within a large store, typically dealing with a specific type of merchandise.

Synonyms

category, division, section.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
departments

Use this term when referring to a specific part of a larger organization or institution, typically in business or government settings.

  • The marketing department launched a new campaign.
  • He works in the finance department.
section

Use this term for smaller, more specific parts of a whole, applicable in a variety of contexts including documents, departments, stores, or physical spaces.

  • Please refer to section 3 of the manual for more details.
  • We organize the store by sections to make it easier for customers to find items.
category

Use this term to classify or group items that share similar characteristics, commonly used in retail, research, and data analysis contexts.

  • This book falls into the fiction category.
  • The products are sorted into different categories.
division

Use this term when referring to a major section of a large organization, often used in corporate or military settings to indicate a significant segment with specialized functions.

  • The company announced a restructuring of its IT division.
  • He is a manager in the sales division.

Examples of usage

  • The electronics department is on the second floor.
  • I need to go to the clothing department to buy a new dress.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Business Context

  • Departments in a business often include Human Resources, Marketing, Finance, and Sales, each focusing on specific goals.
  • The structure of departments can affect company culture and efficiency, with well-defined ones leading to clearer communication.

Education

  • In universities, departments represent different fields of study, allowing students to specialize in their areas of interest.
  • Each academic department often exhibits its own teaching style and research priorities, influencing the overall educational environment.

Government

  • Government departments handle various public services, such as health, education, and transportation, serving the community's needs.
  • In many countries, departments are led by appointed officials responsible for specific laws and regulations.

Pop Culture

  • In movies and TV shows, characters often play roles within departments, like detectives in a police department solving crimes.
  • The depiction of corporate departments is common in media, often highlighting office dynamics and teamwork challenges.

Origin of 'departments'

Main points about word origin

  • The word comes from the Latin 'departire', meaning to divide or distribute the roles within a group.
  • It evolved in English during the late Middle Ages, originally referring to divisions in military or administrative contexts.

The word 'department' originated in the late 18th century from the French word 'dรฉpartement', which in turn came from the Latin word 'departire' meaning 'to divide'. The term was initially used in the context of government divisions and later expanded to businesses and organizations.

See also: depart, departed, departing, department, departure.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #2,304, this word belongs to solid intermediate vocabulary. It's frequently used in both casual and formal contexts and is worth learning for better fluency.