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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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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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

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

How to use organic in a sentence

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
Here they are semi-touching at a grocery store; she likes kombucha.
All Your Internet Boyfriends Are Taken: Gosling, Cumberbatch, and now Joseph Gordon-Levitt|Melissa Leon|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Brinsley stepped up to the passenger side of the patrol car, raised a silver Taurus semi-automatic pistol and began firing.
'Please Don't Die!': The Frantic Battle to Save Murdered Cops|Michael Daly|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Tiger Lily and her tribe, however, were outfitted in semi-realistic outfits (read: nearly naked).
‘Peter Pan Live!’ Review: No Amount of Clapping Brings It to Life|Kevin Fallon|December 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST

For the next hour and half I was the willing sex slave of a semi-professional Master I had met through a friend.
Whip It: Secrets of a Dominatrix|Justin Jones|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Our troops have done all that flesh and blood can do against semi-permanent works, and they are not able to carry them.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
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
The stop-keys will be seen arranged in an inclined semi-circle overhanging and just above the keyboards.
The Recent Revolution in Organ Building|George Laing Miller
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

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 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