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

The governing body has long boasted that this will be an affordable World Cup for fans, confirming there would be four categories for tickets, the cheapest seeing tickets costing $60 tickets for group games. —Ben Church, CNN Money, 12 Dec. 2025

By category, fresh food comps increased mid- to high single digits on a percentage basis in the quarter, while Non-food delivered a mid-single-digit increase. —Jeff Marks, CNBC, 12 Dec. 2025

Winners in the nine competitive categories will be announced live at the event. —Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 12 Dec. 2025

However, because these categories are adjusted for seniority and years of participation, Jordan, who only played one eligible season, would earn less than players who had longer college careers. —Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 12 Dec. 2025

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
• extempore
• feudatory
• gustatory

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