categorize

verb

cat·​e·​go·​rize ˈka-ti-gə-ˌrīz 

categorized; categorizing

transitive verb

: to put into a category : classify

Birds are categorized by type in this field manual.

categorization

ˌka-ti-gə-rə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

categorizable

ˌka-ti-gə-ˈrī-zə-bəl 

adjective

Synonyms of categorize

• classify
• rank
• distinguish

Examples of categorize in a Sentence

This software lets you categorize your photographs in many different ways.

Their opinions can be categorized as conservative.

Birds are categorized by type in this field guide.

Recent Examples on the Web

The ideology of the groups appears to categorize anyone not subscribing to their extremist views as infidels, whether Muslims or Christians. —Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025

The climb is categorized as AD, or moderately difficult, and usually takes five to seven days. —Ally Jaksen, Outside, 4 Nov. 2025

The ability for existing infrastructure, like long-range security cameras, to not only secure evidence of potential threats, but also define and categorize them is key to automating security operations. —Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2025

First, categorize tech debt into principal, interest, liabilities and opportunity cost. —Daniel Kendzior, Fortune, 31 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see category

First Known Use

1705, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for categorize

• actualize
• antagonize
• apologise
• apologize
• capitalize
• characterize
• commercialize
• conceptualize
• contrariwise
• criminalize
• decentralize
• democratize

Kids Definition

categorize

verb

cat·​e·​go·​rize ˈkat-i-gə-ˌrīz 

categorized; categorizing

: to put into a category : classify

categorization

ˌkat-i-gə-rə-ˈzā-shən 

noun