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organization

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

noun

  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

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.

ORGANIZATION: Scandinavian unions are organized in large groupings that minimize jurisdictional squabbles.

From Time Magazine Archive

ORGANIZATION, the, of the life of man according to his love, cannot be changed after death, 524.

From The Delights of Wisdom Pertaining to Conjugial Love by Swedenborg, Emanuel

The necessity of some INTER-DIOCESAN ORGANIZATION, along the lines of the National Catholic Welfare Council of the United States, is the outspoken conviction of many and the unexpressed desire of all.

From Catholic Problems in Western Canada by Daly, George Thomas

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