organic

[ awr-gan-ik ]

/ ɔrˈgæn ɪk /

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adjective

noting or pertaining to a class of chemical compounds that formerly comprised only those existing in or derived from plants or animals, but that now includes all other compounds of carbon.

characteristic of, pertaining to, or derived from living organisms: organic remains found in rocks.

of or relating to an organ or the organs of an animal, plant, or fungus.

of, relating to, or affecting living tissue: organic pathology.

Psychology. caused by neurochemical, neuroendocrinologic, structural, or other physical impairment or change: organic disorder.Compare functional (def. 5).

Philosophy. having an organization similar in its complexity to that of living things.

characterized by the systematic arrangement of parts; organized; systematic: elements fitting together into a unified, organic whole.

of or relating to the basic constitution or structure of a thing; constitutional; structural: The flaws in your writing are too organic to be easily remedied.

developing in a manner analogous to the natural growth and evolution characteristic of living organisms; arising as a natural outgrowth.

viewing or explaining something as having a growth and development analogous to that of living organisms: an organic theory of history.

pertaining to, involving, or grown with fertilizers or pesticides of animal or vegetable origin, as distinguished from manufactured chemicals: organic farming; organic fruits.

Law. of or relating to the constitutional or essential law or laws of organizing the government of a state.

Architecture. noting or pertaining to any work of architecture regarded as analogous to plant or animal forms in having a structure and a plan that fulfill perfectly the functional requirements for the building and that form in themselves an intellectually lucid, integrated whole.

Fine Arts. of or relating to the shapes or forms in a work of art that are of irregular contour and seem to resemble or suggest forms found in nature.

noun

a substance, as a fertilizer or pesticide, of animal or vegetable origin.

OTHER WORDS FOR organic

8 inherent, fundamental, basic

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OPPOSITES FOR organic

1 inorganic.

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Origin of organic

1350–1400; Middle English: pertaining to an organ of the body <Latin organicus by or employing a mechanical device, instrumental <Greek organikós equivalent to órgan(on)organ + -ikos-ic

OTHER WORDS FROM organic

or·gan·i·cal·ness, or·ga·nic·i·ty

[awr-guh-nis-i-tee], /ˌɔr gəˈnɪs ɪ ti/, nounhy·per·or·gan·ic, adjectivenon·or·gan·ic, adjectivepre·or·gan·ic, adjective

pseu·do·or·gan·ic, adjectivequa·si-or·gan·ic, adjectivesem·i·or·gan·ic, adjectivesub·or·gan·ic, adjectiveun·or·gan·ic, adjective

Words nearby organic

organdie, organdy, organelle, organelles, organ grinder, organic, organic acid, organically, organic chemistry, organic compounds, organic disease

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use organic in a sentence

One believer, one consumer, one zealot in this space at an organic and unhurried pace.
OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder on launching a hemp-infused sparkling water brand|Rachel King|August 24, 2020|Fortune
During the month of July, the company not only pulled its advertising from Facebook and Instagram but also stopped posting organic content to those channels.
‘We knew it would impact our business negatively’: How joining the Facebook boycott affected one small advertiser|Kristina Monllos|August 4, 2020|Digiday
Meanwhile, one of the publishers has joined the boycott itself by opting not to run ads on Facebook to promote its videos and increase viewership, though it is still uploading organic videos to the platform and receiving ad revenue from them.
As advertisers boycott Facebook, publishers see video ad revenue fall in July|Tim Peterson|July 16, 2020|Digiday
This can give it the best chance of being seen at the top of SERPs, which goes beyond the confines of regular organic search.
How to adapt SEO strategies for the zero-click search landscape|Edward Coram James|June 8, 2020|Search Engine Watch

When you look at the number of organic traffic, you’d find that you can receive up to 38,000 monthly organic traffic for that keyword.
SEO on a shoestring budget: What small business owners can do to win|Ali Faagba|June 4, 2020|Search Engine Watch
Any plans to grow her exercise movement must, she insists, remain “completely organic.”
How Taryn Toomey’s ‘The Class’ Became New York’s Latest Fitness Craze|Lizzie Crocker|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
I learned some things I can never unlearn about organic decomposition and human bone.
The Real-Life Raiders of the Lost Ark|Alex Belth|November 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They all broke off into clusters, working with a seamless, almost organic precision.
How the NSA Became a Killing Machine|Shane Harris|November 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Her luscious, limited edition certified organic EOS lip balms are also available at drugstores nationwide for the holiday season.
Q&A With Designer Rachel Roy|Cynthia Allum|November 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Or will you be labeled “too extreme” if you choose to buy only local, organic produce?
Orthorexia: When Healthy Eating Becomes an Obsession|DailyBurn|October 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But in the organic world there is no such thing as the "fit" or the "unfit," in any higher or moral sense.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock
It is an important point in diagnosis between functional and organic conditions.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
Absence or marked diminution, therefore, indicates organic disease of the stomach.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
When the amount of free hydrochloric acid is normal, organic disease of the stomach probably does not exist.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
The total acidity is then determined, and the difference between the two determinations indicates the amount of organic acids.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd

British Dictionary definitions for organic

organic

/ (ɔːˈɡænɪk) /

adjective

of, relating to, derived from, or characteristic of living plants and animals

of or relating to animal or plant constituents or products having a carbon basis

of or relating to one or more organs of an animal or plant

of, relating to, or belonging to the class of chemical compounds that are formed from carbonan organic compound Compare inorganic (def. 2)

constitutional in the structure of something; fundamental; integral

of or characterized by the coordination of integral parts; organized

developing naturallyorganic change through positive education

of or relating to the essential constitutional laws regulating the government of a stateorganic law

of, relating to, or grown with the use of fertilizers or pesticides deriving from animal or vegetable matter, rather than from chemicals

noun

any substance, such as a fertilizer or pesticide, that is derived from animal or vegetable matter

organic food collectively

Derived forms of organic

organically, adverb

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

Scientific definitions for organic

organic

[ ôr-găn′ĭk ]

Involving organisms or the products of their life processes.

Relating to chemical compounds containing carbon, especially hydrocarbons.

Using or produced with fertilizers or pesticides that are strictly of animal or vegetable origin.

Relating to or affecting organs or an organ of the body. An organic disease is one in which there is a demonstrable abnormality on physical examination, laboratory testing, or other diagnostic studies.

Cultural definitions for organic

organic

In medicine, a descriptive term for things or conditions that have to do with an organ in the body. The term can also refer to something that is derived from living organisms.

organic

OTHER WORDS FOR organic

OPPOSITES FOR organic

Origin of organic

OTHER WORDS FROM organic

Words nearby organic

Words related to organic

How to use organic in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for organic

Derived forms of organic

Scientific definitions for organic

Cultural definitions for organic