orgy

noun

or·​gy ˈȯr-jē How to pronounce orgy (audio)
plural orgies
1
: secret ceremonial rites held in honor of an ancient Greek or Roman deity and usually characterized by ecstatic singing and dancing
Roman orgies in honor of Bacchus
2
a
: drunken revelry
b
: a sexual encounter involving many people
also : an excessive sexual indulgence (see indulgence sense 1a)
3
: excessive indulgence (see indulgence sense 1a) in something especially to satisfy an inordinate appetite or craving
an orgy of destruction
a national orgy of thrill seeking and risk takingK. T. Greenfeld

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Unsexy Orgies

Orgy is a word which for many immediately conjures salacious imagery and blushed cheeks. However, both the oldest and the most recently-adopted senses of this word contain meanings which may not be at all sexual in nature. The word first came into English in the middle of the 16th century in reference to secret ceremonial rites, particularly those of the Romans and ancient Greeks, which involved singing and dancing. The licentious meaning was not added until the beginning of the 18th century. And the most recent senses (“a riotous display” and “a manifestation of extreme indulgence”), which may describe such things as an assembly of garish colors or a spectacle of destruction, appear to date from the late 19th century.

Examples of orgy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
When Elizabeth and Catherine walk in, there is a full-on drunken orgy happening, complete with a young man going down on Anjou. Alice Burton, Vulture, 23 Aug. 2024 For the Russia release, the producers received requests to black out a scene where Strong, as Cohn, participates in a gay orgy. Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Nov. 2024 Then Trump held a rally at Madison Square Garden, an orgy of hate, filled with offensive, racist rhetoric and attacks. Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 29 Oct. 2024 Turns out someone at the bar invited Malcolm to an orgy. Barry Levitt, TIME, 15 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for orgy 

Word History

Etymology

Middle French orgie, from Latin orgia, plural, from Greek; akin to Greek ergon work — more at work

First Known Use

circa 1561, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of orgy was circa 1561

Dictionary Entries Near orgy

Cite this Entry

“Orgy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/orgy. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

orgy

noun
or·​gy ˈȯr-jē How to pronounce orgy (audio)
plural orgies
1
: secret ceremonies in honor of an ancient Greek or Roman god usually celebrated by wild singing and dancing
2
: something (as a party) that resembles an orgy in lack of control

More from Merriam-Webster on orgy

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