stratify

verb

strat·​i·​fy ˈstra-tə-ˌfī 

stratified; stratifying

transitive verb

1

: to form, deposit, or arrange in strata

2

a

: to divide or arrange into classes, castes, or social strata

b

: to divide into a series of graded statuses

intransitive verb

: to become arranged in strata

Examples of stratify in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

One way to circumvent the problem of lack of cost savings is to better target reimbursement by stratifying subgroups of obese patients into those expected to benefit the most versus those for whom the return isn’t as good. —Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025

Peach seeds stratified in the refrigerator are planted in the garden about one month before the final frost date using these same planting steps. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 28 June 2025

This means intelligence itself is becoming stratified. —Dror Berman, Fortune, 27 June 2025

Earlier clinical trials lumped together people with all kinds of long COVID symptoms; now, researchers are increasingly stratifying patients by symptoms in the hopes of targeting specific biological pathways with their treatments. —The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin stratificare, from stratum + Latin -ificare -ify

First Known Use

1661, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for stratify

• abscissae
• alibi
• alkali
• alumni
• amoebae
• amplify
• annuli
• beautify
• brachii
• butterfly
• calculi
• certify

Kids Definition

stratify

verb

strat·​i·​fy ˈstrat-ə-ˌfī 

stratified; stratifying

: to form, deposit, or arrange in layers

stratified rock