department

A part of an organization that does a particular kind of work.

• She works in the sales department.
• The hospital opened a new emergency department.
• Which department handles payments?

How to use it: the department of something (He teaches in the department of history.)

Similar words: division, section

Common phrases: sales department, finance department, department of something

A part of a large shop where a particular type of product is sold.

• The toy department is upstairs.
• She asked an assistant in the furniture department.
• Which floor has the shoe department?

Similar words: section

Common phrases: shoe department, toy department, clothing department

An activity or subject that someone knows about or is responsible for.

• Cooking is his department.
• Ask Sara about repairs; that is her department.
• Sorry, legal questions are not my department.

Similar words: area, specialty, responsibility

Common phrases: my department, someone's department, not my department

A particular quality or part of something, considered separately from its other qualities.

• The cake wins in the taste department.
• This car is lacking in the comfort department.
• Her new phone is much better in the speed department.

How to use it: in the ... department (The hotel did well in the service department.)

Similar words: aspect, respect

Common phrases: looks department, in that department, comfort department

A particular area of life, work, or study.

• She explored every department of knowledge.
• His interests cover several departments of human activity.
• The book examines this neglected department of study.

How to use it: a department of something (Music is an important department of the arts.)

Similar words: field, area, branch

Common phrases: department of knowledge, department of life, department of study