organ

noun or·gan \ ˈȯr-gən \

|Updated on: 15 Jun 2018

Definition of organ

1 a archaic : any of various musical instruments; especially : wind instrument

b (1) : a keyboard instrument in which sets of pipes are sounded by compressed air and produce a variety of timbres — called also pipe organ

(2) : reed organ

(3) : an electronic keyboard instrument that approximates the sounds and resources of the pipe organ

(4) : any of various similar cruder instruments

2 a : a differentiated structure (such as a heart, kidney, leaf, or stem) consisting of cells and tissues and performing some specific function in an organism

b : bodily parts performing a function or cooperating in an activity

the eyes and related structures that make up the visual organs

3 : a subordinate group or organization that performs specialized functions

the various organs of government

4 : periodical

See organ defined for English-language learners

See organ defined for kids

Examples of organ in a Sentence

the legislative organ of our government
that newspaper is intended as an organ for the whole university community

Recent Examples of organ from the Web

Three times, the calls came that an organ might be available.

— wayne drash, CNN, "The medicine keeping her alive was also killing her," 12 June 2018
According to the Gift of Life Donor Program, non-directed kidney donors selflessly agree to give an organ to someone unknown to them and to whom they are not related.

— hilary decent, Naperville Sun, "Decent: Can anyone spare a kidney?," 25 May 2018
Featuring Steven Paul Spears, tenor; Linda Sparks, piano and Jan Ward, organ.

— gege reed, The Courier-Journal, "Concerts to see this week in Louisville: Willie Nelson to Ben Sollee," 18 May 2018
This concert hall, with the golden pipes of an organ rising behind the stage, was the only space school officials could find for such a large class.

— susan svrluga, Washington Post, "Less cramming. More Frisbee. At Yale, students learn how to live the good life," 12 May 2018
Music Near the Market series: Tigran Buniatyan, organ.

— mark rapp, cleveland.com, "Cleveland Arts listings for May 11-17: Disney's "Aladdin" at Playhouse Square & More," 10 May 2018
Frank says both diabetes and pancreatic cancer affect the pancreas, an organ that sits in the back of the belly and serves as the center of digestion.

— matthew broderick, courant.com, "Derby Day Event Funds Research On Pancreatic Cancer, Possible Link To Diabetes," 3 May 2018
The brain is an organ — just like your pancreas, liver or heart — added Crosby.

— stepfanie romine, Cincinnati.com, "Mental health providers, including Lindner Center, face increased demand," 25 Apr. 2018
The first such operation in the U.S. transplanted an organ from a deceased donor to a 64-year-old penile cancer survivor, Thomas Manning of Halifax, Massachusetts.

— CBS News, "Veteran who survived blast receives "world's most extensive" penis, scrotum transplant," 23 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'organ.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of organ

Middle English, partly from Old English organa, from Latin organum, from Greek organon, literally, tool, instrument; partly from Anglo-French organe, from Latin organum; akin to Greek ergon work — more at work

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

organ Synonyms

Synonyms

agency, agent, instrument, instrumentality, machinery, means, medium, ministry, vehicle;

weapon;

activator, animator, catalyst, driver, energizer, executor, generator, impetus, incentive, inspiration, instigation, instigator, launcher, mover, power, stimulus, trigger;

antecedent, cause, occasion, reason;

subagency, subagent;

Other Music Terms

cacophony, chorister, concerto, counterpoint, madrigal, obbligato, presto, refrain, riff, segue

organ-

combining form

variants: or organo-

Definition of organ-

1 : organ

organogenesis

2 : organic

organomercurial

Origin and Etymology of organ-

Greek organon

ORGAN Defined for English Language Learners

organ

noun

Definition of organ for English Language Learners

: a part of the body (such as the heart or liver) that has a particular function
—used as a polite way of saying penis
: a musical instrument that has a keyboard and pipes of different lengths and that makes sound by pushing air through the pipes