category

noun

cat·​e·​go·​ry ˈka-tə-ˌgȯr-ē 

plural categories

1

: any of several fundamental and distinct classes to which entities or concepts belong

Taxpayers fall into one of several categories.

2

: a division within a system of classification

She competed for the award in her age category.

Synonyms of category

• type
• kind

Examples of category in a Sentence

The cars belong to the same category.

Taxpayers fall into one of several categories.

She competed for the award in her age category.

Recent Examples on the Web

No single category can contain the Whitmanesque multitudes jockeying for position inside us. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026

The poll includes more than 600 winners in nearly 170 categories in six areas — Arts & activities, Home & garden, Food & drink, Lifestyles & shopping, People & media and Personal services. — Jane Godiner, Baltimore Sun, 29 June 2026

Many of the shows on this list exemplify some or all of these categories. — Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 29 June 2026

With up to 60 percent off at Calpak and a discount on Oprah’s favorite toiletry bag, this is one category worth checking while sales are happening. — Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 29 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin categoria, from Greek katēgoria predication, category, from katēgorein to accuse, affirm, predicate, from kata- + agora public assembly, from ageirein to gather

First Known Use

1588, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for category

• allegory
• amatory
• auditory
• clerestory
• crematory
• desultory
• dilatory
• dormitory
• excretory
• feudatory
• gustatory
• gyratory

Kids Definition

category

noun

cat·​e·​go·​ry ˈkat-ə-ˌgōr-ē 

-ˌgȯr-

plural categories

1

: one of the divisions or groupings used in a system of classification

"species" and "genus" are biological categories

2

: class entry 1 sense 3a, kind