classification

noun

clas·​si·​fi·​ca·​tion ˌkla-sə-fə-ˈkā-shən 

1

: the act or process of classifying

2

a

: systematic arrangement in groups or categories according to established criteria

specifically : taxonomy

b

: class, category

classificatory

ˈkla-sə-fi-kə-ˌtȯr-ē  kla-ˈsi-fə-  ˈkla-sə-fə-ˌkā-tə-rē 

adjective

Synonyms

• bracket
• category
• class
• division
• family
• genus
• grade
• group
• kind
• league
• order
• rank(s)
• rubric
• set
• species
• tier
• type

Examples of classification in a Sentence

the classification of new species

job classifications for government workers

Recent Examples on the Web

Our team hopes to learn about whether more gamma-ray bursts in the sample challenge the previous short and long classification. —Amy Lien, Discover Magazine, 19 Apr. 2024

For example, a person who trafficked more than 14 milligrams of fentanyl could face ten to thirty years or life in prison — a Class A felony, the most severe felony classification in Missouri. —Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1767, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Phrases Containing classification

• Dewey decimal classification
• self-classification

Kids Definition

classification

noun

clas·​si·​fi·​ca·​tion ˌklas-(ə-)fə-ˈkā-shən 

1

: the act or process of classifying

2

a

: systematic arrangement in groups : taxonomy

b

: class entry 1 sense 3a, category

classificatory

ˈklas-(ə-)fə-kə-ˌtōr-ē  -ˌtȯr- 

adjective

Medical Definition

classification

noun

clas·​si·​fi·​ca·​tion ˌklas-(ə-)fə-ˈkā-shən 

1

: the act or process of classifying

2

: systematic arrangement of animals and plants in groups or categories according to established criteria

specifically : taxonomy sense 2

Legal Definition

classification

noun

clas·​si·​fi·​ca·​tion

: the act or method of distributing into a class or category according to characteristics

also : a class or category determined by characteristics see also suspect classification