Faculty: meaning, definitions and examples

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faculty

[ˈfækəlti ]

Definition

^{Context #1 | Noun}

educational institution

A faculty is a division within a university or college comprising one subject area, or a group of related subject areas, and typically responsible for academic research and teaching.

Synonyms

department, division, school.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
faculty	Used to refer to the academic staff of a university or college, or sometimes the academic departments of a university. The university's faculty members are leaders in their fields The engineering faculty is organizing a conference
department	Used to refer to a specific section within a larger organization or institution, usually focusing on a particular area of study or function. She works in the marketing department The biology department has received new research funding
school	Refers to a larger organizational unit that offers education and can encompass various departments or faculties, especially within a university context. He is studying at the School of Medicine The School of Business Administration has a high reputation
division	Refers to a larger unit within an organization that may encompass multiple departments or serves to organize into broader categories. The company has several divisions, including finance and human resources The university's Division of Humanities offers various interdisciplinary programs

Examples of usage

The Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University is one of the oldest in the country.
She is a member of the faculty at the School of Medicine.
Each faculty member brings a unique perspective to the table.
The faculty is dedicated to providing quality education to its students.
The faculty meeting will be held in the lecture hall.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word comes from the Latin 'facultas', meaning 'ability' or 'power', reflecting the skills of teachers.
In the medieval period, it evolved to refer specifically to a division of a university, such as faculty of arts or law.

Education

A faculty typically consists of academic departments that specialize in particular subjects, such as science or humanities.
The concept helps organize educational institutions, allowing students to easily identify their areas of study.

Psychology

In psychology, 'faculty' can refer to mental capabilities such as memory, perception, and reasoning.
The term is used to distinguish between different types of cognitive skills needed for learning.

Pop Culture

In popular media, faculty members are often portrayed as either strict disciplinarians or supportive mentors in university settings.
Shows like 'Community' highlight the diverse personalities and interactions between faculty and students.

History

Historically, faculties were among the earliest organizational structures in universities, dating back to the 12th century.
The ancient Greeks and Romans valued educated individuals, setting a foundation for future educational systems.

Translations

Translations of the word "faculty" in other languages:

🇵🇹 faculdade

🇮🇳 संकाय

🇩🇪 Fakultät

🇮🇩 fakultas

🇺🇦 факультет

🇵🇱 wydział

🇯🇵 学部

🇫🇷 faculté

🇪🇸 facultad

🇹🇷 fakülte

🇰🇷 학부

🇸🇦 كلية

🇨🇿 fakulta

🇸🇰 fakulta

🇨🇳 院系

🇸🇮 fakulteta

🇮🇸 deild

🇰🇿 факультет

🇬🇪 ფაკულტეტი

🇦🇿 fakültə

🇲🇽 facultad

Word Frequency Rank

At position #2,946, this word belongs to solid intermediate vocabulary. It's frequently used in both casual and formal contexts and is worth learning for better fluency.

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2946 faculty
2947 typically
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