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Meaning & use

an organization

noun·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ən ˌɔːɡənaɪˈzeɪʃən/
US/ən ˌɔːrɡənəˈzeɪʃən/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable

    a group of people who work together in a structured way for a shared purpose.

    Grammar: Countable: you can say 'an organization', 'two organizations', 'many organizations'.

    Patterns

    • a charitable/non-profit organization
    • an international organization
    • work for an organization

    She works for an international organization that helps refugees.

    The organization was founded in 1990 to protect the local forest.

    Several organizations joined together to clean up the beach.

  2. noununcountableformal

    the act of planning and arranging something, or the state of being arranged well.

    Grammar: Uncountable when it means the process or quality of being organized.

    Patterns

    • the organization of an event
    • poor organization
    • good organization

    The organization of the festival took several months.

    The success of the project depended on careful organization.

Word forms

pluralorganizations

Common combinations

a non-profit organization
He volunteers for a non-profit organization that feeds the homeless.
join an organization
She decided to join an environmental organization.
a membership organization
The club is a membership organization open to all ages.
the organization of something
The organization of the conference was flawless.

Synonyms and how they differ

institution
Institution often suggests a large, established body like a bank, university, or government agency; organization is broader.
association
Association is often used for groups of people with a shared interest or profession, like a trade association.
body
Body is a more formal word for an organization with a specific official function, e.g., a regulatory body.

Word family

organize verb
To plan and arrange something, or to form a group.
organized adjective
Arranged well, or (of a person) good at planning.
organizer noun
A person who plans and arranges an event or activity.

Commonly confused: an organization or organism?

an organization vs organism

An organism is a living thing (like a plant or animal); an organization is a group of people or a planned structure.

Practice

The charity is a non-profit ______ that provides free meals to children.

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