dept.

Writing & Everyday abbreviation · Everyday

dept.
Stands forDepartment
CategoriesWriting & Everyday
Also writtenDept

dept. stands for Department, an everyday abbreviation also used in geography.

Shortens "department" in addresses, organizational charts, letterheads and signs, as in "Dept. of Education" or "Sales Dept." It refers to a division of a government, company, store or university.

Example: Send all complaints to the Customer Service Dept., 200 Main Street, Suite 4.

Usage notes

Variants include dep't and dpt. AP style spells the word out in news copy. The US federal government has 15 executive departments, such as the Department of State, whose heads sit in the cabinet. Department stores take their name from dividing goods into departments.

More everyday abbreviations

  • BLT – Bacon, lettuce and tomato (sandwich)
  • BOGO – Buy one, get one (free)
  • bros. – Brothers
  • BYOB – Bring your own bottle
  • cont'd – Continued
  • ct. – Count
  • dist. – District
  • Div – Division
  • DIY – Do it yourself
  • DND – Do not disturb
  • DOB – Date of birth
  • ea. – Each

See all 82 everyday abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.