class

1 of 2

noun

ˈklas

plural classes

often attributive

Synonyms of class next

: a body of students meeting regularly to study the same subject

Several students in the class are absent today.

: the period during which such a body meets

: a course of instruction

is doing well in her algebra class

: a body of students or alumni whose year of graduation is the same

donated by the class of 1995

: a group sharing the same economic or social status

the working class

: social rank

especially : high social rank

the classes as opposed to the masses

: high quality : elegance

a hotel with class

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

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

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

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

: 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

: a division or rating based on grade or quality

a class B movie

: the best of its kind

the class of the league

: 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

2 of 2

verb

classed; classing; classes

transitive verb

: classify

She was classed as a part-time worker.

Example Sentences

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. See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The goal isn’t to create a physical building or separate college to house AI research or classes on UMass Boston’s Dorchester campus. —

Jon Chesto, BostonGlobe.com, 17 May 2023 She was told how taking part in drama classes at the Actors' Church has helped the women with their healing, giving them a sense of community and belonging. —

Simon Perry, Peoplemag, 17 May 2023 Beginning with service work, every installment ascends a rung of the class ladder, progressing upward through middle managers, knowledge workers and, finally, the executives on top. —

Alison Herman, Variety, 17 May 2023 The eloquent use of a gliding traveling shot recalls the way McQueen employed this visual tactic so effectively in his 2018 heist thriller Widows, in that case wordlessly encapsulating the class strata of Chicago. —

Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 May 2023 If your spouse is immature or incapable of problem-solving with your teen, then seek out a parent coach or parent classes that can serve as intermediaries, as well as give the third-party distance needed to help some information go down a bit more smoothly. —

Meghan Leahy, Anchorage Daily News, 17 May 2023 However, players were easily identifiable by information such as uniform number, position, skin tone, class in school, height, weight and hometown, and there was a function within the game by which names could be entered by gamers. —

Creg Stephenson | Cstephenson@al.com, al, 17 May 2023 Mary remained in the class, and the teacher went back to his desk and changed the topic, Hull said. —

Alexandra E. Petri, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2023 That student enrolled in Teachworth’s advanced physics class during the 2014-2015 school year, according to her suit. —

Lauryn Schroeder, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 May 2023

Verb

This simple sewing machine weighs 12 pounds and comes with a handle on top to make carrying it to class a breeze. —

Brandi Fuller, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Apr. 2023 Yet that’s also indicative of the cynical way in which this sequel has seemingly been thrown together, despite attracting the likes of Laurent and Mark Strong to help class up the joint. —

Brian Lowry, CNN, 31 Mar. 2023 The algorithm classes single mothers like Imane as especially high risk. —

Matt Burgess, WIRED, 6 Mar. 2023 The family said in the statement that part of his care plan involved his parents attending school with him and accompanying him to class every day, and the week of the shooting, the parents hadn’t done that. —

Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 17 Feb. 2023 Randolph also won the team competition to class the boys’ 5A state championship with a round of 299 Tuesday finishing at 623. —

al, 26 Jan. 2023 Spelling mistakes, slight differences in how assets are classed (United Kingdom vs. the U.K., for example) can lead to the right assets not appearing in search terms. —

Sebastien Bardoz, Forbes, 19 Apr. 2023 Though technically not classed as a weed whacker, this Husqvarna brush cutter can do everything a weed whacker can and more. —

Kat De Naoum, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Apr. 2023 Low performers are classed as respondents who deploy services less frequently, have longer turnarounds for changes and service restorations, or who have worked on updates that degrade the service and will require fixing. —

Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'class.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

French classe, from Latin classis group called to military service, fleet, class; perhaps akin to Latin calare to call — more at low entry 3

First Known Use

Noun

1583, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Verb

1642, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of class was in 1583

See more words from the same year

Phrases Containing class

Cite this Entry

Style

“Class.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/class. Accessed 5 Jun. 2023.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

class

1 of 2 noun

ˈklas

: a group of students meeting regularly to study the same subject

: the period during which such a group meets

: a course of instruction

: a group of students who graduate together

class of 1990

: a group or rank of society

the working class

: high social rank

: high quality : elegance sense 2

a hotel with class

: a group or set alike in some way

: a major category in biological classification that is above the order and below the phylum or division

: a grouping or standing (as of goods or services) based on quality

classless

-ləs

adjective

class

2 of 2 verb

: classify

Medical Definition

class

noun

ˈklas

often attributive

: 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

Legal Definition

class

noun

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

: 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

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

: a group whose members are represented in a class action

: protected class

: 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