category

noun

cat·​e·​go·​ry ˈka-tə-ˌgȯr-ē How to pronounce category (audio)
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.

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Trump’s action directs federal agencies, including the Department of Justice, to interpret Title IX rules as prohibiting transgender athletes from participating in female sports categories. Vivian Jones, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025 Thailand has been submitting to the category since 1984 but is yet to secure a nomination. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 20 Aug. 2025 Enterprise browsers will serve a critical function to help secure user interfaces, and the category will surely continue to mature with new entrants and consolidation through acquisitions. Will Townsend, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025 The researchers then grouped these species into one of five dietary categories based on gut analyses and field observations: strict ant/termite specialists, general insect-eaters, carnivores, omnivores, and herbivores. Rupendra Brahambhatt, ArsTechnica, 20 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for category

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of category was in 1588

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Category.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/category. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

category

noun
cat·​e·​go·​ry ˈkat-ə-ˌgōr-ē How to pronounce category (audio)
-ˌgȯr-
plural categories
1
: one of the divisions or groupings used in a system of classification
"species" and "genus" are biological categories
2

More from Merriam-Webster on category

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