or·gan·ic
ȯr-ˈga-nik 
1
a(1)
: of, relating to, yielding, or involving the use of food produced with the use of feed or fertilizer of plant or animal origin without employment of chemically formulated fertilizers, growth stimulants, antibiotics, or pesticides
organic farming
organic produce
(2)
: of, relating to, or derived from living organisms
organic evolution
b(1)
: relating to, being, or dealt with by a branch of chemistry concerned with the carbon compounds of living beings and most other carbon compounds
studied organic chemistry in college
(2)
: of, relating to, or containing carbon compounds
organic solvents
2
a
: having systematic coordination of parts : organized
an organic whole
b
: forming an integral element of a whole : fundamental
incidental music rather than organic parts of the action—
Francis Fergusson
Francis Fergusson
c
: having the characteristics of an organism : developing in the manner of a living plant or animal
society is organic
many new coinages … stem from the normal organic structure of the language—William Chomsky
William Chomsky3
4
: of, relating to, or constituting the law by which a government or organization exists
their nation has written the separation of church and state into its organic law—Paul Blanshard
Paul Blanshard5
archaic
: instrumental
: an organic substance: such as
a
: a fertilizer of plant or animal origin
b
: a pesticide whose active component is an organic compound or a mixture of organic compounds
c
: a food produced by organic farming
Examples of organic in a Sentence
Adjective
He thinks of the city not as a collection of different neighborhoods but as an organic whole.
This neighborhood is an organic part of the city.
Recent Examples on the WebRick Mauch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Apr. 2024
Kashi has made a focused effort to improve their cereal products by reining in sugar content and supporting farmers who are transitioning their acreage to organic.
—Jessie Shafer, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Apr. 2024
Of course, no trip to Tuscany is complete without an organic wine or olive oil tasting.
—Katie Jackson, Robb Report, 12 Apr. 2024
Similar to oil and gas companies, landfill operators drill and construct a network of deep wells that extract gases produced by decomposing organic waste, such as food scraps.
—Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
In fact, these accounts are also eligible for ad-sharing revenue based on the organic impressions on promotions that appear in the replies to their extremist and racist posts.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 11 Apr. 2024
In January 2017, Honest announced a voluntary recall of its organic baby powder due to possible contamination with microorganisms that may cause eye and skin infections.
—Kimi Robinson, USA TODAY, 10 Apr. 2024
The dinners will source ingredients from all over Florida, highlighting sustainable and organic practices.
—Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024
House of Marley products are constructed with renewable bamboo and REWIND fabric made from 30% reclaimed organic cotton, 30% reclaimed hemp and 40% recycled PET.
—K. Thor Jensen, PCMAG, 1 Apr. 2024
John Timmer, Ars Technica, 12 July 2023
As the only boutique organic wasabi farm that doubles as an agri-tourism experience, Wasabi Village offers a unique journey from field to feast.
—Jonny Bierman, Vogue, 27 Feb. 2024
Szekely’s mother was vice president of the New York Vegetarian Society and fed the family a diet of raw foods, years before terms like farm-to-table and organic were commonplace.
—People Staff, Peoplemag, 28 Feb. 2024
Trees should be cut in half and placed in the organics cart with the lid closed, or can be set curbside next to the organics cart.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Dec. 2023
Few artists blend the organic with the electronic as seamlessly and thoughtfully as Roberto Carlos Lange, known by his stage name Helado Negro.
—Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 14 Feb. 2024
The company is also developing a system that processes residents’ black water—which includes human waste and food organics from kitchen sinks and dishwashers—into a soil amendment.
—Matt Simon, WIRED, 12 Feb. 2024
Ramsey County launched an organics waste pilot project last April, enrolling some 500 households in Newport, Cottage Grove, Maplewood and North St. Paul.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 8 Jan. 2024
Each sample originally consisted of a two-pound sediment block, which was chemically melted away to produce a cubic centimeter of material that was mostly pollen, but mixed with other minerals and organics.
—Brian Handwerk, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Oct. 2023
Adjective
There are a number of organic market vendors and at least one food truck that has featured organic foods.
—Rick Mauch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Apr. 2024
Kashi has made a focused effort to improve their cereal products by reining in sugar content and supporting farmers who are transitioning their acreage to organic.
—Jessie Shafer, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Apr. 2024
Of course, no trip to Tuscany is complete without an organic wine or olive oil tasting.
—Katie Jackson, Robb Report, 12 Apr. 2024
Similar to oil and gas companies, landfill operators drill and construct a network of deep wells that extract gases produced by decomposing organic waste, such as food scraps.
—Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
In fact, these accounts are also eligible for ad-sharing revenue based on the organic impressions on promotions that appear in the replies to their extremist and racist posts.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 11 Apr. 2024
In January 2017, Honest announced a voluntary recall of its organic baby powder due to possible contamination with microorganisms that may cause eye and skin infections.
—Kimi Robinson, USA TODAY, 10 Apr. 2024
The dinners will source ingredients from all over Florida, highlighting sustainable and organic practices.
—Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024
House of Marley products are constructed with renewable bamboo and REWIND fabric made from 30% reclaimed organic cotton, 30% reclaimed hemp and 40% recycled PET.
—K. Thor Jensen, PCMAG, 1 Apr. 2024
Noun
The fact that distinct organic chemicals are consistently associated with different salts suggests that there were either several distinct ways of synthesizing the organics or that they were deposited and preserved under distinct conditions.
—John Timmer, Ars Technica, 12 July 2023
As the only boutique organic wasabi farm that doubles as an agri-tourism experience, Wasabi Village offers a unique journey from field to feast.
—Jonny Bierman, Vogue, 27 Feb. 2024
Szekely’s mother was vice president of the New York Vegetarian Society and fed the family a diet of raw foods, years before terms like farm-to-table and organic were commonplace.
—People Staff, Peoplemag, 28 Feb. 2024
Trees should be cut in half and placed in the organics cart with the lid closed, or can be set curbside next to the organics cart.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Dec. 2023
Few artists blend the organic with the electronic as seamlessly and thoughtfully as Roberto Carlos Lange, known by his stage name Helado Negro.
—Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 14 Feb. 2024
The company is also developing a system that processes residents’ black water—which includes human waste and food organics from kitchen sinks and dishwashers—into a soil amendment.
—Matt Simon, WIRED, 12 Feb. 2024
Ramsey County launched an organics waste pilot project last April, enrolling some 500 households in Newport, Cottage Grove, Maplewood and North St. Paul.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 8 Jan. 2024
Each sample originally consisted of a two-pound sediment block, which was chemically melted away to produce a cubic centimeter of material that was mostly pollen, but mixed with other minerals and organics.
—Brian Handwerk, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Oct. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'organic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing organic
Dictionary Entries Near organic
Cite this Entry
“Organic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/organic. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
organic
adjective
or·gan·ic
ȯr-ˈgan-ik
1
a
: of, relating to, or arising in a bodily organ
b
: affecting the structure of the living thing
an organic disease
2
a
: of, relating to, or obtained from living things
organic matter
b
: of, relating to, or containing carbon compounds
c
: of, relating to, or dealt with by a branch of chemistry concerned with the carbon compounds of living things and most other carbon compounds
d
: relating to, producing, dealing in, or involving foods produced with the use of feed or fertilizer obtained from plants or animals and without the use of laboratory-made fertilizers, growth substances, antibiotics, or pesticides
organic gardeners
organic food stores
3
a
: forming an important part of a whole : fundamental
b
: having the parts related together
an organic whole
organically
adverb
-i-k(ə-)lē
Medical Definition
organic
1 of 2 adjective
or·gan·ic
ȯr-ˈgan-ik
1
a
: of, relating to, or arising in a bodily organ
b
: affecting the structure of the organism
an organic disease
compare functional sense 1b
2
a(1)
: of, relating to, or derived from living organisms
(2)
: relating to, yielding, dealing in, or involving the use of food produced with the use of feed or fertilizer of plant or animal origin without employment of chemically formulated fertilizers, growth stimulants, antibiotics, or pesticides
organic stores
b(1)
: of, relating to, or containing carbon compounds
(2)
: relating to, being, or dealt with by a branch of chemistry concerned with the carbon compounds of living beings and most other carbon compounds
organic
2 of 2 noun
: an organic substance: as
a
: a fertilizer of plant or animal origin
b
: a pesticide whose active component is an organic compound or a mixture of organic compounds
More from Merriam-Webster on organic
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for organic
Nglish: Translation of organic for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of organic for Arabic Speakers
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