organ
gb/ˈɔɹɡən/ us/ˈɔɹɡən/
B1
English
~ 6700
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
body part with a specific function
A special part inside a person, animal, or plant that does an important job, like the heart, lungs, or liver.
Usage pattern:
an/the [adjective] organ of the body
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "organ" with "body" and say things like *"My organ hurts"* when they mean *"My body hurts"* or name a specific organ, such as *"My stomach hurts."* They may also confuse this meaning with the musical instrument and say *"He plays the organ of the body"* instead of clearly referring to a body organ.
Synonyms
body part (More general and informal; does not emphasize scientific or functional structure as strongly as "organ".)
Collocations
vital organ
|internal organ
|major organ
|organ failure
|organ transplant
|organ donor
Themes
biology
|health
|medicine
|body
|science
Examples
- The liver is the largest internal organ in the human body.
- Wearing a seat belt helps protect your vital organs in a crash.
- The disease attacks the heart and other major organs.
- Doctors checked each organ carefully before the transplant.
- Smoking can seriously damage your lungs and other organs.
Learner examples
- The heart is an important organ.
- Your lungs are organs that help you breathe.
- The doctor said his organs are healthy.
- The brain is an organ in your head.
- The kidneys are small organs in your back.
Noun
B1
entity
2
large keyboard musical instrument
A big musical instrument with keyboards that makes long sounds, often heard in churches and some bands.
Usage pattern:
to play the organ
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this meaning with the body-part meaning and may write *"He plays a difficult organ"* in a biology context, or *"The organ is sick"* when they mean a body organ like the heart. Context and collocations like "play the organ" or "church organ" help signal the musical meaning.
Synonyms
keyboard (A broader term for any keyboard-based musical instrument; does not specifically refer to the pipe or church organ.)
Collocations
play the organ
|church organ
|pipe organ
|electric organ
|organ music
|organist at the church organ
Themes
music
|arts
|arts_entertainment
|religion
Examples
- She learned to play the organ when she was a teenager.
- The wedding procession began as the church organ filled the hall with music.
- The old pipe organ was restored after years of silence.
- An electronic organ was used instead of an orchestra for the performance.
- The organ’s deep notes echoed through the cathedral.
Learner examples
- He plays the organ in the church.
- The organ is a very loud instrument.
- They bought an electric organ for their band.
- We listened to organ music at the concert.
- An organ has many keys and pedals.
Noun
formal
C1
entity
3
official publication of a group
A newspaper or magazine that speaks for a group or organization and shares its ideas.
Usage pattern:
the official organ of [a group/party]
Common mistake:
Learners may misunderstand this sense and think it always means a physical body part or musical instrument. In written political or media contexts, "organ" can mean an official publication, so translating or reading it only as "body part" would be wrong.
Synonyms
mouthpiece (Informal and sometimes negative; suggests the publication only repeats what the group wants it to say.)
Antonyms
independent newspaper (Emphasizes that the paper does not officially speak for a particular group or party.)
Collocations
party organ
|official organ of the party
|party’s official organ
|propaganda organ
|organ of the ruling party
Themes
media
|politics
|communication
Examples
- The newspaper began as the official organ of the trade union.
- For decades, the journal served as the main organ of the scientific society.
- The party’s central organ published an editorial supporting the reforms.
- Critics dismissed the magazine as little more than a government organ.
- Their monthly newsletter is the primary organ for communicating with members.
Learner examples
- The party’s organ prints news that supports the party.
- The group started an organ to share its ideas.
- For many years, this magazine was the organ of the student union.
- The government uses this paper as its main organ.
- The organ of the club tells members about events.
Noun
formal
C1
entity
4
functional unit of an institution
A part of a big organization or government that has a special job and power.
Usage pattern:
an organ of [the state / government / the UN]
Common mistake:
Learners may not recognize this formal legal meaning and may translate "organ of the state" too literally as a physical body part instead of a government body. It is important to understand that in political and legal texts, "organ" often means a department or branch with official powers.
Synonyms
agency (Common term for a government body; "organ" is more formal and often used in legal or institutional writing.)
Antonyms
private body (Highlights that a private body is not an official part of the state or public institution.)
Collocations
organ of the state
|organs of government
|executive organ
|judicial organ
|legislative organ
|organs of the United Nations
Themes
law
|politics
|organizations
|business
Examples
- The courts are an independent organ of the state.
- The United Nations has several principal organs responsible for peace and security.
- Parliament functions as the main legislative organ of the country.
- These regulatory bodies are organs of the European Union.
- Every organ of government must act within the limits of the constitution.
Learner examples
- The police are an organ of the state.
- The court is an organ of the government.
- The United Nations has many organs with different jobs.
- Parliament is the law-making organ in this country.
- Each organ of government has its own power.
Noun
slang
B2
entity
5
slang for the penis
An informal, joking word for a man’s sex part (the penis).
Usage pattern:
a man’s organ; his organ
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize that this is a slang or euphemistic use and might use it in serious or formal medical contexts where the neutral word "penis" is more appropriate. They may also misunderstand the meaning in jokes and think it refers to the musical instrument.
Synonyms
penis (Neutral, anatomical term; "organ" here is slangy or humorous and often more indirect or euphemistic.)
Collocations
male organ
|sexual organ
|expose his organ
|touch his organ
Themes
body
|sexuality
|daily_life
Examples
- The comedian made an awkward joke about the size of his organ.
- The article avoided direct language and referred to the suspect’s "male organ."
- He was arrested for exposing his organ in public.
Learner examples
- In this joke, "organ" means the man’s penis.
- The doctor used the phrase "male organ" in the report.
- This use of "organ" is informal and about sex.
Grammar
Dictionary form
organ
IPA
GB/ˈɔɹɡən/
US/ˈɔɹɡən/
Syllables & stress
or - gan (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (or)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: organ
- Plural: organs
Word family
Forms
organs
noun
Core family
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
Advanced or less common
organelle
noun
Expressions
internal organ
1/ɪntˈɚnəl ˈɔɹɡən/
fixed phrase
organ inside the body
An organ that is inside your body, like your liver, stomach, or kidneys.
Examples
- The crash caused severe damage to his internal organs.
- An ultrasound can help doctors see your internal organs.
- She studied diagrams of the body’s internal organs in class.
organ failure
1/ˈɔɹɡən fˈeɪljɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
condition where an organ stops working
A serious medical problem when an organ, like the heart or kidneys, stops working correctly.
Examples
- He died of multiple organ failure after the accident.
- The patient is in critical condition due to kidney organ failure.
- Doctors are trying to prevent organ failure by starting treatment early.
pipe organ
1/pˈaɪp ˈɔɹɡən/
fixed phrase
organ with sound from pipes
A very large kind of organ that makes sound when air moves through long pipes, often found in churches.
Examples
- The cathedral’s pipe organ is over a hundred years old.
- They restored the pipe organ to its original sound.
- A famous musician came to perform on the pipe organ.
reproductive organ
1/ɹˌipɹədˈʌktɪv ˈɔɹɡən/
fixed phrase
technical
organ for making offspring
An organ that helps a person, animal, or plant make babies or new life.
Examples
- The disease can affect both the liver and the reproductive organs.
- Biology class today focused on the human reproductive organs.
- Some chemicals can harm the reproductive organs of animals.
sexual organ
1/sˈɛkʃuəl ˈɔɹɡən/
fixed phrase
technical
organ used for sex and reproduction
A body part that is used for sex and for making babies.
Examples
- The textbook includes diagrams of male and female sexual organs.
- In many cultures, it is taboo to show sexual organs in public.
- Doctors prefer to use neutral terms like "sexual organ" in reports.
vital organ
1/vˈaɪtəl ˈɔɹɡən/
fixed phrase
organ essential for staying alive
An organ that you must have to stay alive, like your heart, lungs, or brain.
Examples
- A strong blow to the chest can damage a vital organ.
- The bullet narrowly missed his vital organs.
- Doctors checked her vital organs after the surgery.
organ donor
1/ˈɔɹɡən dˈoʊnɚ/
fixed phrase
person who gives an organ
A person who gives one of their organs, while alive or after death, so doctors can put it into someone else.
Examples
- After his death, several patients benefited because he was an organ donor.
- She decided to become an organ donor when she renewed her driver’s license.
- You can indicate on your driver’s license if you want to be an organ donor.
- The doctors are waiting for a suitable organ donor for the child.
- The hospital held an event to thank families of organ donors.
- The campaign encourages people to talk to their families about being organ donors.
organ transplant
1/ˈɔɹɡən tɹˈænsplænt/
fixed phrase
technical
operation to replace an organ
A medical operation where a sick or damaged organ is taken out of a person’s body and a healthy one is put in.
Examples
- Advances in organ transplant have saved thousands of lives.
- She is waiting for an organ transplant to save her life.
- She is on a waiting list for an organ transplant.
- Advances in surgery have made organ transplants much safer.
- The hospital is a leading center for organ transplant.
- The charity raises money to support children who need organ transplants.