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Energy Department

Energy Department

10 3.4
A part of the United States government that makes rules and plans about energy and keeps nuclear power safe
  • noun
  • /ˈɛnərdʒi dɪˈpɑrtmənt/
  • US
translation icon : Departamento de Energía (EE. UU.)
  • After the presidential election, Obama staffed his Energy Department with people who felt similarly.
  • Energy Department laboratories

Examples

  • Do you agree with Secretary Chu that this is not the job of the Energy Department?

    Blog text (4)
  • The Energy Department is responsible for developing national energy policy to promote sustainability.

  • The U.S. Energy Department says 2.5 million customers remain without power across seven states.

    Blog text (20)
  • The Energy Department has emerged as the lead agency in developing the administration.

    Academic text (1993)
  • Many other government agencies, such as the Department of Education, the Energy Department, and the Environmental Protection Agency, also provide a wide array of information.

    Academic text (1995)
  • The U.S. Energy Department says it'll save us money in the long run.

    Blog text (13)
  • In its own survey, the Energy Department found that 28 percent of stations don't have gas available for sale.

    Blog text (26)
  • Lawmakers urge Obama's Energy Department to "expedite permits" for the construction of liquefied natural gas plants.

    Blog text (23)
  • In March, the U.S. Energy Department announced that it would invest up to $385 million in six biorefineries designed to convert cellulose into ethanol.

    Academic text (2007)
  • When defense-related programs from other U.S. government agencies, such as the Energy Department and NASA, are factored in, defense and intelligence account for 99 cents of every dollar Washington spends on national security and foreign affairs; just a penny goes to diplomacy and foreign aid.

    Academic text (2009)

Synonyms

DOE
vsEnergy Department
  • US
144 5.1

The US government department that plans and manages energy for the country

is the full name written in words rather than a shortened abbreviation
Department of Energy
vsEnergy Department
  • Formal
28 3.7

The US government department that makes energy policy and looks after nuclear safety

is the alternate phrasing that uses different word order for the same agency

Surface Forms

Morphology

energy + department

The basic meaning — a department or ministry that deals with energy — is directly and transparently composed from 'energy' (usable power) + 'department' (organizational unit). While the full, specific reference to the U.S. federal agency and its founding date is extra encyclopedic knowledge, the core sense follows common noun‑noun naming patterns and is immediately inferable by a B1 learner who knows both words.

Etymology

Energy Department comes from putting together Energy and Department, where Energy means power or fuel and Department means 'a government office'. It was created in 1977 after big fuel problems, so it means the United States office that plans national energy and keeps nuclear sites safe.