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Synonyms

organization

American  
[awr-guh-nuh-zey-shuhn] / ˌɔr gə nəˈzeɪ ʃən /
especially British, organisation

noun

  • organizations
    plural
  1. the act or process of organizing.

  2. the state or manner of being organized.

  3. something that is organized.

  4. organic structure; composition.

    The organization of this painting is quite remarkable.

  5. a group of persons organized for some end or work; association.

    a nonprofit organization.

  6. the administrative personnel or apparatus of a business.

  7. the functionaries of a political party along with the offices, committees, etc., that they fill.

  8. an organism.


adjective

  1. of or relating to an organization.

  2. Informal. conforming entirely to the standards, rules, or demands of an organization, especially that of one's employer.

    an organization mentality.

organization British  
/ ˌɔːɡənaɪˈzeɪʃən /

noun

  1. the act of organizing or the state of being organized

  2. an organized structure or whole

  3. a business or administrative concern united and constructed for a particular end

  4. a body of administrative officials, as of a political party, a government department, etc

  5. order or system; method

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns

Etymology

Origin of organization

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English organizacion, from Medieval Latin organizātiōn-, stem of organizātiō, equivalent to organizāt(us) “arranged” (past participle of organizāre “to contrive, arrange”; see organize) + -iō -ion

Explanation

An organization is a group of people who work together, like a neighborhood association, a charity, a union, or a corporation. You can use the word organization to refer to group or business, or to the act of forming or establishing something. It can also refer to a structure for classifying things or to a system of arrangement or order. When your English teacher tells you you need to work on the organization of your essay, she's using this last meaning. This word derives from an Old French verb meaning "to combine into an orderly whole."

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Vocabulary lists containing organization

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The return of Donald is truly an endorsement of the entire Rams organization.

From Los Angeles Times Sep. 6, 2026

Although PI16+ fibroblasts and PI16- fibroblasts shared a general pro-inflammatory response, the PI16+ cells also showed distinct changes in biological pathways involved in immune regulation and the organization of tissue.

From Science Daily Sep. 5, 2026

Sarah took over running Shoes for Souls from her sister, Lindsay, who created the organization in 2016.

From Los Angeles Times Sep. 5, 2026

"Tesla is really just getting started," said Anthony Townsend, a senior research associate at Cornell Tech, a policy research organization in New York.

From Barron's Sep. 4, 2026

At PIH, the organization was facing its own financial crisis.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French

Following the unusually grim fire season of 2015, governments and other organizations attempted to reverse some of that damage.

From Science Daily Sep. 6, 2026

Yet all but one was listed for rent during the reporting periods, and some current residents and neighbors at those addresses confirmed that the properties were rented, the news organizations found.

From Salon Sep. 5, 2026

Election officials and organizations representing nursing home caregivers have rejected the allegations and say there is no evidence of voter fraud.

From Los Angeles Times Sep. 5, 2026

Lutnick stepped down from leadership roles at Cantor and hundreds of organizations last year, mainly in February, the month he was sworn in, according to the filing.

From The Wall Street Journal Sep. 4, 2026

The very best and most successful basketball teams—like the best and most successful organizations of any kind—are the ones that understand how to combine rational analysis with instinctive judgment.

From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell

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