ENGLISH
REFERENCE

NGO

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ɛŋˈɡoʊ// ngo

n. Stands for non-governmental organization. A group that works to help people or the environment and is not part of any government.

n. Abbreviation for non-governmental organization. A non-profit organization that operates independently of any government, typically one whose purpose is to address social or political issues.


SIMPLE

She works for an NGO that provides clean water.

CONTEXTUAL

The local NGO partnered with international agencies to distribute emergency medical supplies after the earthquake.

COMPLEX

While many NGOs rely on private donations to maintain their independence, others receive significant government grants, which can sometimes complicate their neutral status in conflict zones.

Usage

Often used as an acronym; the full form is 'non-governmental organization'.

Pitfall

a NGOan NGOBecause the letter 'N' is pronounced with a starting vowel sound ('en'), it takes the article 'an' instead of 'a'.

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