categorize

1 of 2

verb

cat·​e·​go·​rize ˈka-ti-gə-ˌrīz 

categorized; categorizing

transitive verb

: to put into a category : classify

Birds are categorized by type in this field manual.

categorization

ˌka-ti-gə-rə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

categorizable

ˌka-ti-gə-ˈrī-zə-bəl 

adjective

categorization

2 of 2

noun

cat·​e·​go·​ri·​za·​tion ˌka-ti-gə-rə-ˈzā-shən 

-ˌrī-ˈzā-;

-tə-ˌgȯr-ə-ˈzā-

plural -s

: the act of categorizing or the state of being categorized : classification

Synonyms of categorize

Verb

• classify
• rank
• distinguish

Examples of categorize in a Sentence

Verb

This software lets you categorize your photographs in many different ways.

Their opinions can be categorized as conservative.

Birds are categorized by type in this field guide.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Jean Toomer’s hard-to-categorize work emerged in 1923 as an astonishing blend of genres, a brilliant composite of vignettes giving voice to facets of African-American life in the United States. — Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2026

It is based on the three-month average that categorizes El Niño as weak, moderate, strong or very strong. — Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2026

This framework categorizes decisions as simple, complicated, complex, and chaotic. — Steve Banker, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026

While most judges have categorized such requests as overreaching or for an improper purpose, two out of three judges on the panel ruled that there was nothing out of line about the QueerDoc request. — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 20 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

see category

First Known Use

Verb

1705, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for categorize

• actualize
• antagonize
• apologise
• apologize
• capitalize
• characterize
• commercialize
• conceptualize
• contrariwise
• criminalize
• decentralize
• democratize

Kids Definition

categorize

verb

cat·​e·​go·​rize ˈkat-i-gə-ˌrīz 

categorized; categorizing

: to put into a category : classify

categorization

ˌkat-i-gə-rə-ˈzā-shən 

noun