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

The Kardashian-Jenner family matriarch, known for her intricate holiday celebrations, just dropped a thoughtful Amazon storefront full of impressive gift ideas — and its picks span nearly every category. —Averi Baudler, PEOPLE, 6 Dec. 2025

This is your third time being nominated in this category. —Lyndsey Havens, Billboard, 5 Dec. 2025

And the look Rita Ora just wore to the Red Sea International Film Festival in Saudi Arabia may very well fall into one of those categories. —Marci Robin, Allure, 5 Dec. 2025

Room categories include honeymoon and family suites featuring private balconies with views of the Gulf of Nicoya. —Kristin Braswell, Travel + Leisure, 5 Dec. 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