class

noun, often attributive

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\ ˈklas

plural classes

Definition of class

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : a body of students meeting regularly to study the same subject Several students in the class are absent today.

b : the period during which such a body meets

c : a course of instruction is doing well in her algebra class

d : a body of students or alumni whose year of graduation is the same donated by the class of 1995

2a : a group sharing the same economic or social status the working class

b : social rank especially : high social rank the classes as opposed to the masses

c : high quality : elegance a hotel with class

3 : a group, set, or kind sharing common attributes: such as

a : a major category in biological taxonomy ranking above the order and below the phylum or division

b : a collection of adjacent and discrete or continuous values of a random variable

c : a collection of elements (such as numbers or points) : set sense 21

d : a property of a geometric curve that is equal to the number of tangents that can be drawn to it through any point not on the curve A curve is said to be of the nth degree or order when any right line meets it in n points and of the nth class when n tangents can be drawn to it through any assumed point.— George Salmon

4 : a division or rating based on grade or quality a class B movie

5 : the best of its kind the class of the league

6 : a data type in object-oriented programming that consists of a group of objects (see object entry 1 sense 6a) with the same properties and behaviors and that can be arranged in a hierarchy with other such data types

class

verb

classed; classing; classes

Definition of class (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: classify She was classed as a part-time worker.

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about class

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Examples of class in a Sentence

Noun There are 20 students in the class. Several people in the class are absent today. This class is really difficult. He will be teaching an American history class next semester. The college offers classes in computer programming and engineering. She is taking a class on psychology. What classes are you taking this semester? I have an English class this morning. My class got out early today. I have already missed two classes. Verb I would class that suggestion as helpful, so let's make a note of it.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Cost for the program if a parent enrolls the child for the 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. all day class would be $60 per day or as much as $300 per week and could get pricey for more than one child. — David Taylor, Houston Chronicle, "YMCA provides $60 per day learning centers so students can get peer interactions during remote courses," 8 Aug. 2020 Some private schools in North Carolina have already started reopening, with mixed results: An entire fourth-grade class at Thales Academy in Wake Forest is under quarantine orders because a student tested positive for the coronavirus this week. — Washington Post, "Live updates: Trump says he may act alone if Congress can’t reach deal on new coronavirus stimulus package," 6 Aug. 2020 The Sun Devils' 2021 class is third in the Pac-12 according to Rivals, behind Oregon and USC. — Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, "ASU football coaches make list of top recruiters in Pac-12," 6 Aug. 2020 Lebanon’s political class should be on guard in the weeks ahead: Shock will inevitably turn to anger. — Faysal Itani, Star Tribune, "Lebanon's mushroom cloud of incompetence," 5 Aug. 2020 The free class is open to parents, grandparents and child-care providers, and will cover topics such as bathing, diapering, signs of illness and newborn behaviors. — Post-tribune Staff, chicagotribune.com, "Community news," 4 Aug. 2020 As far as independent programs go, UConn’s 2021 class is second-best, behind Notre Dame. — Shawn Mcfarland, courant.com, "Who’s coming to Storrs? An update on UConn’s football recruiting class for 2021," 3 Aug. 2020 In predominantly white Denver, this class is an exception. — Raksha Vasudevan, Outside Online, "This Yoga Co-Op Is Diversifying Teacher Training," 31 July 2020 The hand-on class is $83 plus tax and service fee and includes a kombucha kit, gallon jar and lab-grade scoby to take home. — Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, "Popular metro Detroit hands-on workshops are back with new outdoor setup," 31 July 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Students at the University of Louisville this fall should brace for online finals and wearing masks to class every day, among other changes. — Sarah Ladd, The Courier-Journal, "Masks, hybrid classes: What U of L's fall semester will look like amid the coronavirus," 23 June 2020 High school students might attend school on alternating weeks, and tune in to class virtually the rest of the time. — Lori Higgins, Eleanore Catolico, Koby Levin, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit schools release draft plan of fall return — and it includes 3 possible scenarios," 9 June 2020 Yet under post-Brexit immigration rules due to take effect in January, a similar applicant would be turned down for a visa, since the job is classed as low-skilled. — The Economist, "Labour market How post-Brexit immigration rules will exclude key workers," 16 May 2020 Because his symptoms weren’t classed as very severe, doctors told him to just go home and quarantine himself. — Bloomberg.com, "This Is What It Feels Like to Catch the Coronavirus," 12 May 2020 India's biggest and most economically-important cities — including New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and Ahmedabad — will all be classed as red zones, infection hotspots, and kept under strict lockdown. — NBC News, "The Week in Pictures: Lonely roads and the push to reopen," 4 May 2020 The other important change is that, for the first time, gig workers who are classed as self-employed will be able to apply for unemployment benefits. — John Cassidy, The New Yorker, "The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly in the Two-Trillion-Dollar Stimulus," 26 Mar. 2020 The Rare Beer Club is the place to score bombers (750-ml bottles) of uncommon barrel-aged stouts, sours, and Belgian-style ales from all over the globe that will class up any connoisseur’s cellar. — Tony Rehagen, Bloomberg.com, "Beer By Mail: The Hot Gift For Drinking Buddies Under Quarantine," 23 Apr. 2020 Well, the downsides include the haunting memory of the murder of Garrison’s wife and the eventual realization that his creator, Dr. Emil Harting (Guy Pearce, classing up the joint), can turn him off with a switch. — Jake Coyle, Detroit Free Press, "‘Bloodshot’ has plenty of brawn, but lacks brains," 12 Mar. 2020

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

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Dictionary Entries near class

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Last Updated

14 Aug 2020

Cite this Entry

“Class.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/class. Accessed 22 Aug. 2020.

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More Definitions for class

class

noun

English Language Learners Definition of class

(Entry 1 of 2)

: a group of students who meet regularly to be taught a subject or activity

: a series of meetings in which students are taught a particular subject or activity : a course of instruction

: one of the meetings in which students are taught a particular subject or activity

class

verb

English Language Learners Definition of class (Entry 2 of 2)

: to decide that (someone or something) belongs to a particular group

See the full definition for class in the English Language Learners Dictionary

class

noun

\ ˈklas

Kids Definition of class

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a group of students who are taught together regularly I'm the youngest in my class.

2 : one of the meetings of students being taught I'm late for class.

3 : a course of instruction a class in science

4 : a group of students who graduate together the senior class

5 : a group of people in a society who are at the same level of wealth or social status the working class

6 : a group of related living things (as plants or animals) that ranks above the order and below the phylum or division in scientific classification Birds and mammals form two separate classes in the animal kingdom.

7 : a category (as of goods or services) based on quality

class

verb

classed; classing

Kids Definition of class (Entry 2 of 2)

: classify “… I cannot be classed with ordinary insects …”— L. Frank Baum, The Marvelous Land of Oz

class

noun, often attributive

\ ˈklas

Medical Definition of class

: a group, set, or kind marked by common attributes or a common attribute especially : a major category in biological taxonomy ranking above the order and below the phylum or division the class Mammalia

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class

noun

Legal Definition of class

: a group of persons or things having characteristics in common: as

a : a group of persons who have some common relationship to a person making a will and are designated to receive a gift under the will but whose identities will not be determined until sometime in the future — see also class gift at gift

b : a group of securities (as stocks or bonds) having similar distinguishing features (as voting rights or priority of redemption)

c : a group whose members are represented in a class action

d : protected class

e : a group of crimes forming a category distinguished by a common characteristic (as the use of violence or the requirement for a maximum penalty) murder is a class A felony

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