diff --git a/docs/release_notes/issue1172-organization-definition.md b/docs/release_notes/issue1172-organization-definition.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e8bd97d7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/release_notes/issue1172-organization-definition.md
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+### Patch Updates
+
+- Updated the definition of `gist:Organization` to eliminate circularity. Issue [#1172](https://github.com/semanticarts/gist/issues/1172).
diff --git a/ontologies/gistCore.ttl b/ontologies/gistCore.ttl
index a215883a..634407b8 100644
--- a/ontologies/gistCore.ttl
+++ b/ontologies/gistCore.ttl
@@ -1418,10 +1418,11 @@ gist:Organization
 		gist:SchemaMetaData ,
 		gist:UnitOfMeasure
 		;
-	skos:definition "A generic organization that can be formal or informal, legal or non-legal. It can have members, or not."^^xsd:string ;
+skos:definition "A structured entity formed to achieve specific goals, typically involving members with defined roles."^^xsd:string ;
+skos:scopeNote "Not all organizations have members, e.g. shell companies."^^xsd:string ; 
 	skos:example "Legal entities like companies; non-legal entities like clubs, committees, or departments."^^xsd:string ;
 	skos:prefLabel "Organization"^^xsd:string ;
-	skos:scopeNote "There are a plethora of different kinds of organizations that differ along many facets, including members, structure, purpose, legal vs. non-legal, etc."^^xsd:string ;
+	skos:scopeNote "While typically the members of organizations are people, in some cases they are other organizations; e.g., the members of the United Nations are country governments."^^xsd:string ;
 	.
 
 gist:Permission