faculty
19 synonyms and 0 antonyms for faculty, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The teaching staff of a school, college or university.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use faculty
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French faculte, from Latin facultas ("ability, skill"), related to facilis, "easy" — the same root that gives us "facility."
Full origin of faculty →Frequently asked questions
What does “faculty” mean?
The word “faculty” means the teaching staff of a school, college or university. In plain terms, either the teachers at a school, a branch of a university, or a natural mental/physical ability.
How do you pronounce “faculty”?
“Faculty” is pronounced FAK-uhl-tee (/ˈfæk.əl.ti/ in IPA).
How do you use “faculty” in a sentence?
Here is “faculty” used in a sentence: “The faculty voted to change the exam schedule.”
What is another word for “faculty”?
Words with a similar meaning to “faculty” include ability, attribute, capability, capacity, endowment and gift.
What part of speech is “faculty”?
“Faculty” is a noun.
Where does the word “faculty” come from?
The word “faculty” comes from Latin. From Old French faculte, from Latin facultas ("ability, skill"), related to facilis, "easy" — the same root that gives us "facility.".
Is “faculty” a common word?
“Faculty” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “faculty” have?
“Faculty” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the teaching staff of a school, college or university.
What is the difference between "faculty" and "staff" at a university?
Faculty usually refers to the teaching and academic members of an institution, such as professors, lecturers, and instructors, while staff often refers more broadly to non-teaching employees like administrators and support workers. In American English "faculty" specifically names the teaching body, whereas British universities more often say "academic staff."
What is the difference between "faculty" and "department" in a university?
A faculty is a large division of a university that groups related subjects, such as the Faculty of Science or Faculty of Law, while a department is a smaller unit within a faculty devoted to a single subject. So a Faculty of Arts might contain separate departments of History, English, and Philosophy.
Is "faculty" singular or plural?
"Faculty" is a collective noun, so it can take a singular verb when treated as one body ("the faculty meets on Fridays") or, especially in British English, a plural verb when the individual members are emphasised. In American English it can also refer to the teachers collectively, as in "three faculty attended."
When should you use "faculty" to mean an ability?
In this sense "faculty" refers to a natural or mental power such as the faculty of sight, speech, or reason, and it is common in formal or medical contexts. You might say someone "retained all their mental faculties," meaning their reasoning and perception remained intact.