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Meaning & use

NGO

noun·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˌen dʒiː ˈəʊ/
US/ˌen dʒiː ˈoʊ/

Meaning

  1. nouncountable

    a private organization that is not part of a government and works on social, environmental, or humanitarian issues.

    Grammar: Countable: use 'an NGO' or 'NGOs'.

    Patterns

    • work for an NGO
    • an international NGO
    • NGO workers

    She works for an NGO that provides clean water in rural areas.

    Several NGOs criticized the new law.

    The NGO receives funding from private donors.

Word forms

pluralNGOs

Common combinations

international NGO
The international NGO has offices in ten countries.
humanitarian NGO
A humanitarian NGO delivered food to the flood victims.
NGO sector
Many graduates want to work in the NGO sector.
fund an NGO
The foundation funds an NGO that helps refugees.

Synonyms and how they differ

charity
A charity is usually a nonprofit that raises money for good causes; an NGO may also do research or advocacy and may not be a charity.
nonprofit
Nonprofit is a wider term for any organization that does not aim to make a profit; an NGO is specifically independent of government.

Practice

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