departure

Departure is the act of leaving a place or situation. It can refer to physically moving away from a location, such as boarding a train, plane, or ship, or to the end of a period in a sequence or role, such as leaving a job or a residence. The term is widely used in everyday language and in formal contexts, including schedules and timetables.

In transportation, departure times are published for planning arrivals and connections. A departure board or timetable lists upcoming departures, often alongside corresponding arrivals. Departures may be delayed or canceled due to weather, technical problems, crew availability, or security considerations. Airports, bus terminals, and seaports coordinate check-in, boarding, and gate assignments to manage departures efficiently, with on-time performance commonly used as a key metric.

Culturally and personally, departure can signify farewell, transition, or change. It may be a voluntary leaving, such as resigning from a job or moving to a new city, or an involuntary one, such as displacement. Departures are often marked by rituals, letters, or ceremonies, and they can symbolize beginnings as well as endings in literature, film, and history.

Etymology notes: the word departure derives from Old French départ, partir, meaning to leave or divide, itself from Latin partīri or pars, meaning part. The concept is closely linked with arrival, difference in time and place, and the broader idea of transition.