Organization
/ˌɔːr.ɡən.aɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/noun
The act of arranging people or things into a structured whole, or a structured group itself.
Did you know?Organization ultimately comes from Greek organon, meaning “tool” or “instrument,” the same root behind words for bodily organs and even the organ musical instrument—so the idea of structure began as something built to work.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
órganon
“tool, instrument, implement”
Late Latin
Latin
organum
“tool, instrument; later also a musical instrument”
Old French
Old French
organisation
“the act of organizing; arrangement”
14th Century
English
organize
“to form into a structure or system”
17th Century
English
organization
“the act of organizing; a structured body or system”
Explore more surprising origins