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

But the categories that grew most year over year weren’t those that throw off cash. — Molly A. Wallace, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026

Chen said another product category that has taken off is their souvenir merchandise. — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026

Most cards offer 1% back or 1X points on every purchase that falls outside of a bonus category. — Jason Stauffer, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2026

As a result of the win, the film automatically qualifies for submission to the Best International Feature category of the Oscars. — Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 15 Oct. 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