faculty
This word carries a distinct shift in tone depending on the setting. In an academic environment, it describes a collective body of experts, evoking a sense of institutional authority and scholarly hierarchy. It suggests a professional community rather than just a group of employees. When referring to human capabilities, the word evokes a sense of biological or psychological machinery. It describes a specific tool of the mind or body, such as memory or hearing, implying a natural endowment that allows a person to interact with the world.
Countable when referring to a specific academic department or a particular mental ability. Uncountable when referring to the entire teaching staff as a collective group.
Meanings
The teaching staff of a university or college.
"The faculty voted to change the curriculum."
An inherent mental or physical power or ability.
"His faculty of sight was impaired by the accident."
A specific department or division within a university.
"She is a professor in the faculty of law."