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category

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noun cat·e·go·ry \ ˈka-tə-ˌgȯr-ē \

Definition of category

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.

See category defined for English-language learners

See category defined for kids

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Examples of category in a Sentence

  1. The cars belong to the same category.

  2. Taxpayers fall into one of several categories.

  3. She competed for the award in her age category.

Recent Examples of category from the Web

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'category.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of category

Late Latin categoria, from Greek katēgoria predication, category, from katēgorein to accuse, affirm, predicate, from kata- + agora public assembly, from ageirein to gather

category Synonyms

Synonyms
bracket, class, classification, division, family, genus, grade, group, kind, league, order, rank (s), rubric, set, species, tier, type
Related Words
description, feather, ilk, kidney, like, manner, nature, sort; branch, section, speciality, specialty, subclass, subdivision, subgroup, subspecies, variety; breed, race; generation; heading, label, title

CATEGORY Defined for English Language Learners

category

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noun

Definition of category for English Language Learners

  • : a group of people or things that are similar in some way

CATEGORY Defined for Kids

category

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noun cat·e·go·ry \ ˈka-tə-ˌgȯr-ē \

Definition of category for Students

plural categories
:a basic division or grouping of things
  • He competed in the junior category.

Learn More about category

  1. See words that rhyme with category Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for category Spanish Central: Translation of category Nglish: Translation of category for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of category for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about category

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Examples: category in a Sentence