category

noun

cat·​e·​go·​ry ˈka-tə-ˌgȯr-ē How to pronounce category (audio)
plural categories
Synonyms of categorynext
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.
After putting the products through a rigorous testing process, PEOPLE's feline and canines picked their favorite products from 19 categories as the winners of the PEOPLE Pet Product Awards 2025. Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 19 Dec. 2025 Saleh recounted how he had been hounded out of Egypt when on the verge of shooting the first film in the trilogy, The Nile Hotel Incident, which won Sundance’s Grand Jury prize in the World Cinema – Dramatic category in 2017. Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 19 Dec. 2025 The next year will test whether the sector can keep pace, but many indicators suggest youth sports could remain one of the most dynamic and investable categories within the sports economy for years to come. Chris Russo, Sportico.com, 19 Dec. 2025 Previous winners of the category have included New York’s ILIS in 2024 and Lisbon’s Palácio Grilo in 2023. Chrissie McClatchie, Travel + Leisure, 19 Dec. 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 24 Dec. 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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