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noun Uncommon

orgy

AW-jee

Orgy (noun) means a wild, unrestrained party involving heavy drinking, group sex, or general excess. Example: “The frat house was infamous for its Saturday-night orgies.”

noun
1
A wild, unrestrained party involving heavy drinking, group sex, or general excess.
"The frat house was infamous for its Saturday-night orgies."
"Ancient sources describe drunken orgies held in honor of Dionysus."
2
Loosely, any period of excessive indulgence in some activity.
"The team went on an orgy of spending after winning the lottery."
"The finale was an orgy of violence and special effects."

How to use orgy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA group sex party, or more loosely, a binge of any excessive activity.

Common mistake

"An orgy of X" is a common figurative pattern meaning excessive amounts of X (an orgy of destruction, an orgy of shopping) — it doesn't always mean the literal sense.

Common pairings
an orgy of violence drunken orgy go on an orgy of spending

Word forms

orgies plural

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The team went on an _____ of spending after winning the lottery.

Etymology

From French orgies, from Latin orgia, from Greek órgia, "secret rites" — originally referring to ritual pagan ceremonies before it took on its modern, racier sense.

Origin: Latin

Related words

Rhymes for orgy

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Frequently asked questions

What does “orgy” mean?

The word “orgy” means a wild, unrestrained party involving heavy drinking, group sex, or general excess. In plain terms, a group sex party, or more loosely, a binge of any excessive activity.

How do you pronounce “orgy”?

“Orgy” is pronounced AW-jee (/ˈɔɹd͡ʒi/ in IPA).

How do you use “orgy” in a sentence?

Here is “orgy” used in a sentence: “The team went on an orgy of spending after winning the lottery.”

What part of speech is “orgy”?

“Orgy” is a noun.

Where does the word “orgy” come from?

The word “orgy” comes from Latin. From French orgies, from Latin orgia, from Greek órgia, "secret rites" — originally referring to ritual pagan ceremonies before it took on its modern, racier sense.

Is “orgy” a common word?

“Orgy” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “orgy” have?

“Orgy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a wild, unrestrained party involving heavy drinking, group sex, or general excess.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial