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

• 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

More importantly, though, Infiniti’s move to Lead Actress realigns both that category and Supporting Actress. —Joe Reid, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025

Mayfield may not be leading the NFL in many statistical categories among quarterbacks, but he is still considered one of the best in the league. —James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025

Monica Vinader was founded in 2008, and was a pioneer in the demi-fine jewelry category. —Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 10 Oct. 2025

Hadestown won in this category in 2020. —Paul Grein, Billboard, 10 Oct. 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