faculty
FAK-uhl-tee
Faculty (noun) means the teaching staff of a school, college or university. Example: “The whole faculty attended the leaving party for the head teacher.”
noun
1
The teaching staff of a school, college or university.
"The whole faculty attended the leaving party for the head teacher."
"The faculty voted to change the exam schedule."
"She joined the faculty as a history lecturer."
2
A specific department or division of a university.
"She applied to the Faculty of Law at her local university."
"The Faculty of Arts has moved into the new building."
"He studies medicine in the Faculty of Health Sciences."
3
A natural ability or power, especially mental or physical.
"Bats have a remarkable faculty for finding their way in the dark."
"Even in his nineties he kept all his mental faculties."
"The faculty of speech develops rapidly in early childhood."
How to use faculty
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the teachers at a school, a branch of a university, or a natural mental/physical ability.
Common mistake
In American English "faculty" usually means the teaching staff collectively; in British English it more often refers to a university department.
UK vs US
US: faculty = teaching staff. UK: faculty = a school/division within a university (e.g. "Faculty of Arts").
Easily confused with
Common pairings
faculty member
mental faculties
faculty of medicine
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Word forms
- Plural
- faculties
Fill the gap
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The whole _____ attended the leaving party for the head teacher.
Etymology
From Old French faculte, from Latin facultas ("ability, skill"), related to facilis, "easy" — the same root that gives us "facility."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for faculty
See all rhymes for 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.
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