Faculty Meaning and Definition
Faculty
Pronunciation
/ˈfæk.jʊl.i/
Part of Speech
Noun
Definition
A group of persons who are recognized experts in a particular field or subject, and are employed by an institution to teach and conduct research, especially at a college or university.
Examples
- The faculty at Harvard University is renowned for its academic excellence.
- The engineering faculty at Stanford is one of the best in the world.
Synonyms
- Tenure-track professor
- Academic staff
Antonyms
- Layperson
- Anonymous expert
Etymology
The word “faculty” comes from the Latin word “facultas,” meaning “ability” or “capacity.” It was first used in English in the 14th century to refer to a group of people with expertise in a particular subject.
Usage Notes
The term “faculty” is often used in academic and educational contexts to refer to a group of teachers or professors at a school or university. It is also used to describe the collective expertise or authority of a group of people in a particular field.
Cultural References
In popular culture, the term “faculty” has been used in movies and TV shows to refer to the teachers or professors at a school or university, such as in the TV show “Community” or the movie “The Breakfast Club.”
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
Expressions like “on faculty” or “to join the faculty” are common idioms used to describe someone becoming a teacher or professor at a school or university.
Related Words or Phrases
Words like “staff,” “department,” “instructor,” and “professor” are closely related to the term “faculty” in an academic context.
Collocations
Collocations like “full-time faculty,” “part-time faculty,” or “adjunct faculty” are common in academic contexts.
Frequency of Use
The term “faculty” is a common term in academic and educational discourse, but its frequency of use may vary depending on the context and institution.
Common Misspellings
Common misspellings of the term “faculty” include “fackulty,” “faciltiy,” and “faciltie.”