interdepartmental

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "interdepartmental" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that involves two or more departments. For example, "Many businesses have implemented interdepartmental teamwork to increase efficiency."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

An interdepartmental body for the co-ordination of EU policies has been created (though it is understaffed and over-reliant on the initiative of individuals).

The Economist

Public servants in Canberra will organise interdepartmental study groups to examine the problems in Melbourne.

The Economist

By 1967 Project MAC had become its own interdepartmental laboratory, separated from its earlier Department of Electrical Engineering home.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Board on Geographic Names (BGN), interdepartmental agency of the U.S. government created in 1890 and providing standardized geographic names of foreign and domestic places for use by the federal government.

Encyclopedia Britannica

More than a dozen interdepartmental majors are also available, and students may even design their own majors.

Encyclopedia Britannica

She refused to say which arm of the government had been responsible, stating: "It's an interdepartmental responsibility, we are trying to establish what happened" including how such a man got security clearance.

Independent

Given the demographics of the industry, I feel very comfortable with the concept of distance learning — it would be tough to start a chapter of the Young Republicans or throw a fun interdepartmental mixer with a student body that, so far, is ninety per cent men over forty.

The New Yorker

Some of the adults my parents allowed me to approach with religious questions and issues included teachers, a religion professor whom my father knew and respected from an interdepartmental university committee they had served on together, and the father and mother of the family next door, who were both deacons (a type of élite lay minister) in the church two blocks from our home.

The New Yorker

All he suffers, in the end, is some interdepartmental comeuppance, but one can imagine that the show's creators could use a lawsuit as a conceit for a two-hour farewell special, reprising, via testimony, all Michael's choicest remarks.

The New Yorker

PowerPoint had been created, in part, as a response to the new corporate world of interdepartmental communication.

The New Yorker

Described in a Xinhua report as an "interdepartmental joint conference system for financial regulation," the body appears to lack real enforcement or policy-making powers, which will remain with a host of other agencies in the financial sector.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing collaborative projects, specify the departments involved to provide clarity and context to your audience.

Common error

Avoid using "interdepartmental" when you mean something that occurs within a single department. "Intradepartmental" refers to activities or communication that happen inside one department, while "interdepartmental" involves multiple departments.

Linguistic Context

The term "interdepartmental" primarily functions as an adjective. It is used to describe something that involves or connects multiple departments within an organization or system, as supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Science

30%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adjective "interdepartmental" is used to describe something that involves multiple departments, signaling collaboration or connection. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage, particularly in News & Media and Encyclopedia contexts. When using "interdepartmental", ensure you are referring to activities involving more than one department, distinguishing it from "intradepartmental". High-quality sources like The New York Times and The Guardian frequently employ this term, solidifying its place in formal and neutral registers. Remember to use "interdepartmental" to specify collaborative efforts to ensure clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cross-departmental

Emphasizes activity that spans multiple departments within an organization.

multi-departmental

Highlights the involvement of several departments in a project or activity.

inter-agency

Focuses on collaboration between different agencies, often governmental.

cross-functional

Refers to teams or projects that involve members from various functional areas within a company.

joint departmental

Implies a combined effort or responsibility between departments.

department-spanning

Describes something that extends across multiple departments.

sector-linking

Describes a connection of activities between sectors.

intra-organizational

Highlights activities and processes within an organization, potentially involving different departments.

collaborative departmental

Suggests a cooperative effort between departments.

integrated departmental

Implies a seamless combination of departmental efforts.

FAQs

How can I use "interdepartmental" in a sentence?

You can use "interdepartmental" to describe projects, committees, or communications that involve multiple departments. For example, "The company formed an interdepartmental task force to address the new regulations."

What are some synonyms for "interdepartmental"?

Alternatives include "cross-departmental", "multi-departmental", or "inter-agency", depending on the specific context.

Is "interdepartmental" the same as "intradepartmental"?

No, "interdepartmental" refers to something involving multiple departments, while "intradepartmental" refers to something occurring within a single department.

When is it appropriate to use "interdepartmental"?

Use "interdepartmental" when you need to emphasize that an activity, project, or communication involves collaboration or coordination between two or more departments within an organization or government. For instance, "The "cross-departmental" effort led to the successful launch of the new product."