organic
gb/ɔɹɡˈænɪk/ us/ɔɹɡˈænɪk/
B1
English
~ 3200
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
property
1
Produced naturally, without chemicals
Made or grown without man-made chemicals.
Usage pattern:
[organic] [food/product]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'organic' meaning 'natural' with 'healthy'; not all organic products are necessarily healthier.
Synonyms
natural (Suggests not made or changed by humans, but may not specifically mean free from synthetic chemicals.)
Antonyms
synthetic (Made using artificial substances or processes.)
Collocations
organic food
|organic farming
|organic produce
|organic certification
Themes
food
|health
|environment
|food_drink
Examples
- The store sells a wide range of organic vegetables.
- Organic farming methods are better for the environment.
- She prefers to buy organic milk for her children.
Learner examples
- I eat organic apples.
- This is organic bread.
- We buy organic eggs.
- He grows organic tomatoes.
adjective
B2
property
2
Relating to living things
About or from living things.
Usage pattern:
[organic] [material/substance]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'organic' here with the food-related meaning, though this sense is broader and scientific.
Synonyms
biological (More formal or scientific; refers to life processes in general.)
Antonyms
inorganic (Not made from living things; often used in chemistry.)
Collocations
organic matter
|organic compound
|organic tissue
Themes
science
|biology
|nature
Examples
- Soil contains both organic and inorganic materials.
- Proteins are organic molecules essential for life.
- The lab studies organic compounds found in plants.
Learner examples
- Plants have organic parts.
- Wood is an organic material.
- Animals make organic waste.
adjective
B2
property
3
Developing naturally and smoothly
Growing or changing naturally and smoothly.
Usage pattern:
[organic] [growth/development/process]
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'organic' here means 'eco-friendly', but it refers to natural development.
Synonyms
natural (Emphasizes lack of planning or artificial intervention; broader than 'organic' in this sense.)
Antonyms
artificial (Created or forced by human planning rather than natural development.)
Collocations
organic growth
|organic development
|organic process
Themes
communication
|business
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The company experienced organic growth through word-of-mouth marketing.
- Their friendship was the result of an organic connection over time.
- The project evolved in an organic way without strict planning.
Learner examples
- The team had organic growth.
- Our friendship was organic.
- The change was organic.
adjective
technical
C1
property
4
Relating to carbon-based chemistry
In chemistry, about carbon-based substances.
Usage pattern:
[organic] [compound/chemistry/reaction]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with the everyday food-related meaning of 'organic'. In chemistry, it has a broader definition.
Synonyms
carbon-based (Specifically refers to substances that contain carbon atoms; less formal than 'organic' in chemistry.)
Antonyms
inorganic (In chemistry, substances that generally do not contain carbon-hydrogen bonds.)
Collocations
organic chemistry
|organic molecule
|organic reaction
Themes
science
|chemistry
Examples
- Organic chemistry is a major branch of chemical science.
- Methane is a simple organic compound.
- The research focuses on synthesizing new organic molecules.
Learner examples
- I study organic chemistry.
- Methane is an organic gas.
- Sugar is an organic substance.
Grammar
Dictionary form
organic
IPA
GB/ɔɹɡˈænɪk/
US/ɔɹɡˈænɪk/
Syllables & stress
or - gan - ic (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (gan)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: organic
Word family
Expressions
organic farming
1/ɔɹɡˈænɪk fˈɑɹmɪŋ/
fixed phrase
Farming without synthetic chemicals or GMOs
A way of growing food without man-made chemicals or genetically modified plants.
Examples
- Organic farming avoids the use of artificial pesticides.
- She switched to organic farming to protect the soil.
organic growth
1/ɔɹɡˈænɪk ɡɹˈoʊθ/
fixed phrase
Business growth without acquisitions
When a business gets bigger by selling more or improving itself, not by buying other companies.
Examples
- The company has achieved steady organic growth over the past five years.
- They prefer organic growth to risky mergers.
organic matter
1/ɔɹɡˈænɪk mˈætɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
Material from living things or remains
Material that comes from plants, animals, or other living things.
Examples
- Compost is rich in organic matter.
- The soil's fertility depends on its organic matter content.