faculty

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A division of a university.

   She transferred from the Faculty of Science to the Faculty of Medicine.

2. 2
   noun

   An ability, power, or skill.

   He lived until he reached the age of 90 with most of his faculties intact.

3. 3
   noun

   An authority, power, or privilege conferred by a higher authority.

   Unless he has bi-ritual faculties, the Latin priest must baptize and confirm the Eastern rite person, whether infant or adult, according to the liturgical books of the Latin church ( canon 846 , §2 ).

4. 4
   noun

   one of the inherent cognitive or perceptual powers of the mind

5. 5
   noun

   the body of teachers and administrators at a school

6. 6
   noun

   The academic staff at schools, colleges, universities or not-for-profit research institutes, as opposed to the students or support staff.

7. 7
   noun

   A licence to make alterations to a church.

8. 8
   noun

   The members of a profession.

Etymology

From Middle English faculte (“power, property”), from Old French faculte, from Latin facultas (“capability, ability, skill, abundance, plenty, stock, goods, property; in Medieval Latin also a body of teachers”), another form of facilitas (“easiness, facility, etc.”), from facul, another form of facilis (“easy, facile”); see facile. Doublet of facility.