1
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
2
a(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)
: an electronic keyboard instrument that approximates the sounds and resources of the pipe organ
(3)
(4)
: any of various similar cruder instruments
b
3
: a subordinate group or organization that performs specialized functions
the various organs of government
4
variants
or organo-
1
: organ
organogenesis
2
: organic
organomercurial
Synonyms
Examples of organ in a Sentence
Noun
the legislative organ of our government
that newspaper is intended as an organ for the whole university community
Recent Examples on the Web
Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 18 Apr. 2024
After further study of his tissues and organs, several of those threats were found to have affected Flaco.
—Lauren Oster, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Apr. 2024
Over time, high levels of glucose in the blood can affect your organs and tissues.
—Lauryn Higgins, Health, 16 Apr. 2024
Esra Taskin / Anadolu via Getty Images And ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics, work by the crack team of carpenters, scaffolding experts, professional climbers, organ mechanics and others continues apace at the cathedral, which oversees Paris from an island on the Seine river.
—Keir Simmons, NBC News, 15 Apr. 2024
Related article More people need transplants than there are organ donors.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024
Pig organs aren’t naturally compatible in the human body.
—Emily Mullin, WIRED, 5 Apr. 2024
The organ looks like a gap in the scales covered by a membrane and allows the snakes to triangulate the location of possible prey, even in the dark, the museum says.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2024
Dying of natural causes can be similar to a car shutting down after years of use: Your body slows down and stops, and essential organs stop working.
—Korin Miller, Health, 2 Apr. 2024
Noun
The program was shuttered in 2023 for several months while it was investigated by the nonprofit that oversees the U.S. organ transplant network for complaints regarding patient deaths and infections.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 18 Apr. 2024
After further study of his tissues and organs, several of those threats were found to have affected Flaco.
—Lauren Oster, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Apr. 2024
Over time, high levels of glucose in the blood can affect your organs and tissues.
—Lauryn Higgins, Health, 16 Apr. 2024
Esra Taskin / Anadolu via Getty Images And ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics, work by the crack team of carpenters, scaffolding experts, professional climbers, organ mechanics and others continues apace at the cathedral, which oversees Paris from an island on the Seine river.
—Keir Simmons, NBC News, 15 Apr. 2024
Related article More people need transplants than there are organ donors.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024
Pig organs aren’t naturally compatible in the human body.
—Emily Mullin, WIRED, 5 Apr. 2024
The organ looks like a gap in the scales covered by a membrane and allows the snakes to triangulate the location of possible prey, even in the dark, the museum says.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2024
Dying of natural causes can be similar to a car shutting down after years of use: Your body slows down and stops, and essential organs stop working.
—Korin Miller, Health, 2 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'organ.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near organ
Cite this Entry
“Organ.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/organ. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
organ
noun
or·gan
ˈȯr-gən 
1
a
: a keyboard musical instrument in which sets of pipes are sounded by compressed air
b
: an electronic keyboard musical instrument by which sounds like those of an organ are made
2
: a part (as a kidney or leaf) of a person, plant, or animal that consists of cells and tissues and is specialized to do a particular task compare system sense 1b
3
: a way of getting something done
courts are organs of government
4
: a publication (as a newspaper or magazine) of a special group
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