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

What Could Be Next Expect the snoring category to keep pulling apart into three tiers, and each has a different action for readers deciding what to try. — Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 24 Sep. 2026

What Could Be Next Expect the category to split rather than consolidate. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2026

Where This Category Is Heading This category continues evolving as AI content tools introduce more advanced capabilities for professional workflows. — New Atlas, 24 Sep. 2026

The move comes after Christie’s spent years assessing the appetite for the category, most recently with the blockbuster sale of the collection of Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay. — Daniel Cassady For Artnews, Robb Report, 24 Sep. 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