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

An additional category, Catastrophic plans, may also be available to certain people. —Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 24 Feb. 2026

The contenders in all 27 categories were announced Monday night at a San Diego Music Awards kick-off concert at the Music Box. —George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Feb. 2026

One of those studies estimated that the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma increases by 41% for those in the highest exposure categories. —Michal Ruprecht, CNN Money, 24 Feb. 2026

The rooms There are over 200 rooms across multiple categories that range from the dinky-but-perfectly-formed bunk rooms to the three-bed townhouses. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Feb. 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
• 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