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
organophosphorus
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
Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 27 May 2026
Some patients have died from organ failure caused by unlicensed stem cell transplantation.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 27 May 2026
Roughly 75 percent of marine organisms are bioluminescent, using specialized light-emitting organs called photophores to hunt, mate, and survive in the pitch black.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 26 May 2026
Declining oxygen levels cause symptoms similar to altitude sickness and in the long run can damage the lungs and other organs, while carbon dioxide buildup causes exhaustion and eventual unconsciousness.
—ABC News, 26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for organ
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Compared with other racial and ethnic populations, many people of Asian heritage tend to have less lean-muscle mass and carry more fat centrally, around their vital organs—a type of fat linked to many metabolic issues.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 27 May 2026
Some patients have died from organ failure caused by unlicensed stem cell transplantation.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 27 May 2026
Roughly 75 percent of marine organisms are bioluminescent, using specialized light-emitting organs called photophores to hunt, mate, and survive in the pitch black.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 26 May 2026
Declining oxygen levels cause symptoms similar to altitude sickness and in the long run can damage the lungs and other organs, while carbon dioxide buildup causes exhaustion and eventual unconsciousness.
—ABC News, 26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for organ
Cite this Entry
“Organ.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/organ. Accessed 29 May. 2026.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
