Definition

Noun: - The federal government department responsible for policies and programs related to farming: This refers specifically to the U.S. government agency that oversees services for farmers, including agricultural research, soil conservation, and economic stabilization of the farming sector. It was established in 1862.

Usage

• This term is a proper noun referring to a specific government body, often capitalized as the "Department of Agriculture." It is used in formal, governmental, and agricultural contexts.
• It functions as a singular noun.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• "The Department of Agriculture": This is the full, formal name of the department. "Agriculture Department" is a common shortened form.
  • The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture will give a speech today.

Variants and Related Words

• USDA: An acronym for the "United States Department of Agriculture," which is the official name of this department.
  • The USDA inspects meat and poultry products.
• Agricultural agency: A more general term for any organization, governmental or non-governmental, involved in farming and rural development.

Synonyms

• Department of Agriculture: The full formal name.
• USDA: The standard acronym.

Notes

• This term is specific to the United States. Other countries have equivalent ministries or departments with different names (e.g., the Ministry of Agriculture).
• It is not typically used with idioms or phrasal verbs, as it is a proper noun referring to an institution.

Noun

1. the federal department that administers programs that provide services to farmers (including research and soil conservation and efforts to stabilize the farming economy); created in 1862