departure

noun

de·​par·​ture di-ˈpär-chər How to pronounce departure (audio)
Synonyms of departurenext
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

Synonyms

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

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.
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.
Already, the film feels like a major departure from the Zack Snyder interpretation of the character, with brighter colors and a sense of hope despite the gravity of the situation. — Lee Habeeb, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Apr. 2025 Yet, as your departure date approaches, anxiety sets in. — Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025 There are parallels between the Minnesota native’s UConn exit that leaves eligibility on the table and last year’s departure of guard Nika Mühl, a close friend now on the Seattle Storm who shined in last year’s tournament. — Eric Jackson, Sportico.com, 4 Apr. 2025 After the departure of his three starting wideouts from last season, KU used the transfer portal to reload. — Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 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

Phrases Containing departure

Rhymes for departure

See All Rhymes for departure

Browse Nearby Words

depart this life
departure
departure/arrival time
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Departure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/departure. Accessed 7 Apr. 2025.

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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

Nglish: Translation of departure for Spanish Speakers

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