Organisation vs. Organization | Definition & Examples

Organisation and organization are different spellings of the noun referring to a systematic arrangement, a business or association, or the act of organizing. The word is closely related to the verb “organize/organise.”

The spelling varies depending on whether you’re using UK or US English:

  • In US English, “organization” is the only accepted spelling.
  • In UK English, “organisation” is standard (though “organization” is still acceptable).
    Examples: Organization and organisation in a sentence
    The library shelves displayed no obvious sign of organization/organisation.

    Oran is the spokesperson for a national labor organization/organisation.

    The festival was canceled due to poor organization/organisation.

    Note
    Many words that are spelled with a “z” in US English are spelled with an “s” in US English. Some other common examples include “analyze/analyse,” “realize/realise,” “recognize/recognise,” and “apologize/apologise.”

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    Other forms of the word

    The same spelling distinction carries over to related words, such as “organized/organised,” “organizing/organising,” and “organizer/organiser.”

    • In US English, “organized,” “organizing,” and “organizer” are correct.
    • In UK English, “organised,” “organising,” and “organiser” are standard.
            Examples: Other words related to organization and organisation
            I recently donated some old clothes and organized/organised my closet.

            Tanya and Joey are organizing/organising a fundraiser on behalf of a local charity.

            Aaron works as a freelance event organizer/organiser.

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            Other interesting language articles

            If you want to know more about commonly confused words, definitions, common mistakes, and differences between US and UK spellings, make sure to check out some of our other language articles with explanations, examples, and quizzes.

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            Eoghan Ryan

            Eoghan has a lot of experience with theses and dissertations at bachelor's, MA, and PhD level. He has taught university English courses, helping students to improve their research and writing.