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

Accommodations start at the 172-square-foot Comfort Cave category, while suites top out at 570 square feet at the all-suite mansion. —Anya Von Bremzen, Travel + Leisure, 31 May 2026

They are known amongst meteorologists as flying laboratories that plunge into the strongest winds of category three, four and five hurricanes. —Scott Withers, CBS News, 31 May 2026

Each category is designed around different performance characteristics, balancing factors such as charging speed, energy density, lifespan, and thermal stability. —Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 31 May 2026

The rules also extend that policy to non-binary and gender-expansive members, who may choose either the Men/Open or Women category. —Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 31 May 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