# orgy

/ˈɔɹdʒi/ (US) · /ˈɔːdʒi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/orgy
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 2. excessive indulgence

noun · CEFR B2

doing a lot of one thing in a short time, usually in a way that seems out of control.

For teachers: an instance or period of excessive, unrestrained indulgence in a specified activity or emotion.

- After the team won the championship, the city saw an orgy of celebration.
- The tabloid press engaged in an orgy of speculation regarding the celebrity's private life following the sudden announcement.

### 3. ancient ritual

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Technical

a secret religious ceremony in ancient times that involved wild dancing and drinking.

For teachers: a secret rite or ceremony in antiquity, typically involving riotous behavior in honor of a pagan deity.

- The ancient Greeks held an orgy to honor the god of wine.
- The Dionysian orgies were not merely parties but complex religious rituals intended to induce a state of spiritual ecstasy.

## Examples

- The film depicted a wild orgy in ancient Rome.
- After the stock market crashed, there was a frantic orgy of selling as investors tried to save their capital.
- The tabloid media engaged in a feeding orgy of speculation following the celebrity's sudden disappearance, prioritising sensationalist headlines over verified facts or respect for the family's privacy.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.