departure

noun

de·​par·​ture di-ˈpär-chər How to pronounce departure (audio)
1
a(1)
: the act or an instance of departing
(2)
archaic : death
b
: a setting out (as on a new course)
2
: divergence sense 2
a departure from tradition

Examples of departure in a Sentence

What is your time of departure? You should plan to arrive at the airport an hour before departure. a schedule of arrivals and departures The departures of several key employees have caused problems for the company. her sudden departure from the company The team has struggled since the departure of its head coach. His previous movies have all been comedies, so this dramatic role is a real departure for him.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Pixel 9 Pro was seen by many as a departure from the norm of having the highest specs only available with the larger phones. Ewan Spence, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025 Related Articles Matthieu Blazy, Bottega Veneta’s creative director since 2021, announced his departure from the Italian label in December. Hannah Malach, WWD, 11 Mar. 2025 The game will take place in rural Japan in the 1960s, a huge departure from most games in the series, which take place in the eponymous Silent Hill, a fictional town in Maine. Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025 Talking about his original ambitions for the then 100-site Cineworld chain ahead of his departure as head of the company in 2014, Wiener said its growth had way exceeded his expectations. Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 11 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for departure

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Time Traveler
The first known use of departure was in the 15th century

Cite this Entry

“Departure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/departure. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

departure

noun
de·​par·​ture di-ˈpär-chər How to pronounce departure (audio)
1
: the act of going away
2
: a setting out (as on a new course)
3
: a change from a usual course or standard
a departure from tradition

Legal Definition

departure

noun
de·​par·​ture
: a failure to follow : a deviation from a course or standard
an upward departure from the sentencing guidelines

More from Merriam-Webster on departure

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