classify
verb
clas·si·fy
ˈkla-sə-ˌfī 
classified; classifying
1
: to arrange in classes (see class entry 1 sense 3)
classifying books according to subject matter
2
: to consider (someone or something) as belonging to a particular group
The movie is classified as a comedy.
The vehicle is classified as a truck.
Examples of classify in a Sentence
Students will be learning about the ways scientists classify animals.
The online system can classify books by subject.
Recent Examples on the Web
Tomato Spacing By Plant Type Tomatoes are classified into two main groups, determinate and indeterminate, according to their growth and fruit production habits.
—
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 16 June 2026
Approval of the deal, if it's technically classified as a treaty, would have to clear a two-thirds majority in the Senate, meaning its success could hinge on Democratic support.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 16 June 2026
Missiles in this range are generally classified as intermediate-range ballistic missiles, while ICBMs are usually defined as missiles with ranges above 5,500 kilometers.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 16 June 2026
Under Italian law, ricotta is not classified as a cheese at all.
—Carole Kotkin, Miami Herald, 16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for classify
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Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 16 June 2026
Approval of the deal, if it's technically classified as a treaty, would have to clear a two-thirds majority in the Senate, meaning its success could hinge on Democratic support.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 16 June 2026
Missiles in this range are generally classified as intermediate-range ballistic missiles, while ICBMs are usually defined as missiles with ranges above 5,500 kilometers.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 16 June 2026
Under Italian law, ricotta is not classified as a cheese at all.
—Carole Kotkin, Miami Herald, 16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for classify
Cite this Entry
“Classify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/classify. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
classify
verb
clas·si·fy
ˈklas-ə-ˌfī
classified; classifying
: to arrange in or assign to classes
classify books by subjects
classifier
noun
-ˌfī(-ə)r
Medical Definition
classify
transitive verb
clas·si·fy
ˈklas-ə-ˌfī
classified; classifying
: to arrange in classes that have systematic relations usually founded on common properties
how would you classify these animals
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