organization
Americannoun
-
the act or process of organizing.
-
the state or manner of being organized.
-
something that is organized.
-
organic structure; composition.
The organization of this painting is quite remarkable.
-
a group of persons organized for some end or work; association.
a nonprofit organization.
-
the administrative personnel or apparatus of a business.
-
the functionaries of a political party along with the offices, committees, etc., that they fill.
-
an organism.
adjective
-
of or relating to an organization.
-
Informal. conforming entirely to the standards, rules, or demands of an organization, especially that of one's employer.
an organization mentality.
noun
-
the act of organizing or the state of being organized
-
an organized structure or whole
-
a business or administrative concern united and constructed for a particular end
-
a body of administrative officials, as of a political party, a government department, etc
-
order or system; method
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
antiorganizationnoun
-
misorganizationnoun
-
nonorganizationnoun
-
preorganizationnoun
-
suborganizationnoun
-
superorganizationnoun
-
underorganizationnoun
-
organizationaladjective
-
organizationallyadverb
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."
Vocabulary lists containing organization
TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
List 1
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Keystone Exams: English Composition Glossary
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
Tamara Robinson, who moved into one of the nonprofit’s sites last year, said the organization has provided a “safe haven” that’s changed her life, including by getting her on medication to treat her depression.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
They were still reeling from the dramatic firing of manager Alex Cora and five of his coaches that threw the organization into turmoil.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
The findings, published in Nature, clarify the population's origins, family relationships, and social organization.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 21, 2026
Retiree health coverage provided by employers has become increasingly rare, and only 19% of part-time workers have health coverage from those jobs, according to KFF, a health-policy research organization.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 21, 2026
Herbert belonged to the Hitlerjugend, or Hitler Youth, an organization of teenagers dedicated to Adolf Hitler.
From "Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
The work has continued for several years, and Landström says its progress reflects the combined efforts of many researchers, organizations, and funding partners.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 21, 2026
Directing awards to organizations in high-income countries further complicates the funding.
From Salon ● Jul. 21, 2026
Frank Bisignano, the head of the Internal Revenue Service and Social Security Administration, sits atop two government organizations that store vast reams of sensitive financial data about every taxpayer.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
Partner organizations also include Make the Road New Jersey, 50501, People vs the Machines and South Asians for America, according to a press release.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 19, 2026
At the time, there were no formal women's organizations in the United States.
From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
