Organ — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈȯr-gən/ or·gan

Meaning & Definition of Organ

Organ (noun)

  1. a differentiated structure (such as a heart, kidney, leaf, or stem) consisting of cells and tissues and performing some specific function in an organism
  2. bodily parts performing a function or cooperating in an activity
  3. a keyboard instrument in which sets of pipes are sounded by compressed air and produce a variety of timbres —called also pipe organ

Organ (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a publication that appears at regular intervals

    "that newspaper is intended as an organ for the whole university community"

    similar: book, bulletin, diurnal, gazette, journal, mag, magazine, newspaper, paper, periodical, rag, review, serial, zine
    related: annual, bimonthly, biweekly, daily, monthly, quarterly, semimonthly, semiweekly, triweekly, weekly, yearbook, digest, little magazine, fanzine, pictorial, slick, broadside, edition, extra, sheet, supplement, tab, tabloid, newsletter, newsmagazine, newsweekly

  2. something used to achieve an end

    "uses the business as an organ to fund a variety of political and social causes"

    similar: agency, agent, instrument, instrumentality, machinery, means, medium, ministry, vehicle
    related: determinant, expedient, factor, influence, ingredient, mechanism, tool, weapon, activator, animator, catalyst, driver, energizer, executor, generator, impetus, incentive, inspiration, instigation, instigator, launcher, mover, power, stimulus, trigger, antecedent, cause, occasion, reason, subagency, subagent

Related Entry: Organ-grinder (noun)

Organ-grinder is a different word from Organ. The synonyms below are for organ-grinder, not for organ.

  1. as in pianist, guitarist

    similar: accordionist, bassoonist, clarinetist, cornetist, drummer, fiddler, flautist, flutist, guitarist, harpist, hornist, keyboardist, oboist, organist, percussionist, pianist, picker, piper, reedman, saxophonist, trombonist, trumpeter, violinist, violist, accompanist, recitalist, soloist, symphonist, maestro, virtuoso, artist, performer, minstrel, instrumentalist, musician, player

Related Entry: Organ-grinders (noun)

Organ-grinders is a different word from Organ. The synonyms below are for organ-grinders, not for organ.

  1. as in pianists, guitarists

    similar: accordionists, bassoonists, clarinetists, cornetists, drummers, fiddlers, flautists, flutists, guitarists, harpists, hornists, keyboardists, oboists, organists, percussionists, pianists, pickers, pipers, reedmen, saxophonists, trombonists, trumpeters, violinists, violists, accompanists, recitalists, soloists, symphonists, maestros, virtuosos, artists, performers, minstrels, instrumentalists, musicians, players

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Organ

The most common words with a similar meaning to Organ:

book, bulletin, diurnal, gazette, journal, mag, magazine, newspaper, paper, periodical, rag, review, serial, zine, agency, agent, instrument, instrumentality, machinery, means, medium, ministry, vehicle

Related Words for Organ

annual, bimonthly, biweekly, daily, monthly, quarterly, semimonthly, semiweekly, triweekly, weekly, yearbook, digest, little magazine, fanzine, pictorial, slick, broadside, edition, extra, sheet, supplement, tab, tabloid, newsletter, newsmagazine, newsweekly, determinant, expedient, factor, influence

Origin & 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 work

First known use: before 12th century

Words & Phrases Containing Organ

organ-, organ-grinder, organ of Corti, organ pipe cactus, barrel organ, electric organ, end organ, hand organ

Frequently Asked Questions about Organ

What does "Organ" mean?

"Organ" means a differentiated structure (such as a heart, kidney, leaf, or stem) consisting of cells and tissues and performing some specific function in an organism. As a noun, it is defined as: a differentiated structure (such as a heart, kidney, leaf, or stem) consisting of cells and tissues and performing some specific function in an organism. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Organ"?

Other words for "Organ" include book, bulletin, diurnal, gazette, journal, mag, magazine and newspaper. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Organ" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Organ"?

There are 80 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Organ". Common alternatives include book, bulletin, diurnal, gazette, journal, mag, magazine, newspaper, paper and periodical.

How do you use "Organ" in a sentence?

Examples of "Organ" in a sentence: "that newspaper is intended as an organ for the whole university community"; "uses the business as an organ to fund a variety of political and social causes".

Is "Organ" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Organ" is a noun.

How do you pronounce "Organ"?

"Organ" is pronounced /ˈȯr-gən/ and divided into syllables as or·gan.

What is the origin of the word "Organ"?

"Organ" comes from 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 work. First known use: before 12th century.

What is another word for "Organ" meaning "a publication that appears at regular intervals"?

When "Organ" (noun) means a publication that appears at regular intervals, synonyms include book, bulletin, diurnal, gazette, journal and mag.