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.
But Clay’s psychosexual and personal freefall does not land him at a Long Island orgy for the super rich. Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 14 Mar. 2025 There’s the contest itself, the Big Game, and then there’s the week leading up to it, a jubilee of parties and promotions, a glad-handing orgy for the sports-entertainment complex and a bucket-list indulgence for fans who can spare the time and the expense. Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025 Meanwhile, as ever, Hamas is doing itself or its population no favors by indulging in orgies of celebration for achieving a ‘victory’. Melik Kaylan, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025 That includes threesomes, swingers parties, or orgies. Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 22 Feb. 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Orgy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/orgy. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.

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

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