organist

American

[awr-guh-nist] / ˈɔr gə nɪst /

noun

a person who plays the organ.

organist British

/ ˈɔːɡənɪst /

noun

a person who plays the organ

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of organist

1585–95; < Medieval Latin organista; equivalent to organ ( um ) organ + -ista -ist

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

To be an organist, he writes, “requires being one-third interpreter of classical repertoire, one-third jazz improviser, and one-third theologian.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 24, 2025

The two pieces were played by Dutch organist Ton Koopman, who said he was proud to be able to perform them for the first time in 320 years.

From BBC • Nov. 17, 2025

Ton Koopman, the Dutch organist and head of the Bach Archive who performed the works on Monday, said they were "of a very high quality".

From Barron's • Nov. 17, 2025

Dodger Stadium organist Dieter Ruehle has a long memory, playing a “meow” sound effect after each strikeout Wednesday.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2025

While the organist played church music, more and more people filed in, smiling and nodding at one another.

From "Wish" by Barbara O'Connor

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023