organisation

organisation — noun

1. any collection of individuals who come together to form a company, club, charity

1.nounB1
Definition

any collection of individuals who come together to form a company, club, charity, or other entity with a shared objective — for instance, a charity that aids homeless people, a local sports club, or a business selling goods.

Example

Rachid works for an international organisation that provides clean water to villages.

countable noun with 'an'

The organisation was set up in 1998 by a group of local teachers.

Common collocations
  • join an organisation
  • set up / start an organisation
  • run an organisation
  • international / local / student organisation
  • non-profit / charitable organisation
Synonyms
  • group

    more general; any collection of people, not necessarily formal

  • institution

    suggests a well-established organisation, often in education or finance

  • association

    often a membership-based group with a specific interest

Antonyms
  • individual

    a single person rather than a collective body

Grammar Patterns

organisation + verb (singular)

Usage Note

In British English, collective nouns such as 'organisation' usually take a singular verb: 'the organisation has offices across the UK'. American English allows both singular and plural verbs.

Common Mistakes

The organisation need more members to keep running.
The organisation needs more members to keep running.
In standard British English, treat 'organisation' as a singular noun with a singular verb.
She has a good organisation skill.
She has good organisational skills.
Use the adjective 'organisational' to describe things related to an organisation.

2. the activity of planning and arranging something so that it happens in a well-or

2.nounB1
Definition

the activity of planning and arranging something so that it happens in a well-ordered way, for instance a party, a meeting, or a work project.

Example

Christopher took charge of the organisation of the school's summer festival.

pattern: the organisation of + event

The organisation of the conference took nearly a year of careful planning.

Common collocations
  • the organisation of an event / a party / a meeting
  • take charge of the organisation
  • careful / poor organisation
  • organisation of time / resources
  • involve a lot of organisation
Synonyms
  • planning

    focuses on the preparatory stage before the event

  • arrangement

    often used in plural 'arrangements', emphasising specific logistical details

  • coordination

    emphasises bringing different parts together smoothly

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

the organisation of + noun

Usage Note

This sense is uncountable and refers to the process of organising. It is often followed by 'of' plus the thing being organised: 'the organisation of an event'. Do not confuse with sense 3, which describes the resulting structure or system.

Common Mistakes

She is in charge of organisation the meeting.
She is in charge of organising the meeting.' or ✅ 'She is in charge of the organisation of the meeting.
'Organisation' is a noun; use a gerund or 'the organisation of' when you mean the process.

3. how the parts of something are placed into a coherent structure, or the quality

3.nounC1
Definition

how the parts of something are placed into a coherent structure, or the quality of being neatly arranged and simple to follow — for example, the layout of a report, how ideas are grouped in an essay, or how items are ordered in a cupboard.

Example

Vikram admired the organisation of the library's filing system.

pattern: the organisation of + [system/structure]

The organisation of chapters in this textbook makes each topic easy to study.

Common collocations
  • the organisation of a report / a system / a document
  • clear / logical / poor organisation
  • internal organisation
  • lack of organisation
Synonyms
  • structure

    focuses on the layout of parts within a whole

  • order

    emphasises neatness and logical sequence

  • arrangement

    the specific way items or sections are placed

Antonyms
  • chaos

    complete lack of order or structure

  • disorder

    state without clear arrangement

Grammar Patterns

the organisation of + noun

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 2: sense 2 is about the process of planning, whereas sense 3 describes the resulting arrangement or structural quality. This sense is more abstract and often appears in evaluative contexts — 'a lack of organisation', 'the internal organisation of the text'.

Common Mistakes

The organisation of the team is very efficient at planning events.' (ambiguous)
The team shows good organisation in how it plans events.
If you mean the team's structure and method, use sense 3; if you mean the activity of planning, use sense 2.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words refer to a collection of people with a shared purpose, but they differ in formality and scope. 'Group' is the broadest and most neutral term — it can describe three friends meeting for coffee or a department within a large company. 'Organisation' implies a formal structure with rules, leadership, and defined goals; it is the most natural choice for businesses, charities, and clubs. 'Institution' suggests a long-established organisation with a recognised role in society, such as a university or a central bank — it carries more weight and permanence than 'organisation'. 'Association' typically refers to a membership-based group that exists to promote a shared interest or profession, like 'the British Medical Association'. 'Body' is a formal synonym often used in official contexts, such as 'a regulatory body' or 'the student representative body'. For everyday use, 'organisation' is the best fit for most formal groups; use 'group' for informal collections, and reserve 'institution' for historically significant or large-scale entities.

group ↗institution ↗association ↗body ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • in the organisation
  • the organisation of
  • by the organisation

Prepositions

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'organisation' entered English in the 15th century from Old French 'organisation', which came from Latin 'organum' meaning 'instrument' or 'tool'. The root goes back to Greek 'organon' (εργανον), also meaning a tool or instrument. The idea of a structured body — like a tool made of fitted parts — gave rise to the modern sense of a group of people working together as a coordinated whole. The spelling 'organisation' is standard in British English, while American English prefers 'organization'.