classify

verb

clas·​si·​fy ˈkla-sə-ˌfī 

classified; classifying

transitive verb

1

: to arrange in classes (see class entry 1 sense 3)

classifying books according to subject matter

2

: to consider (someone or something) as belonging to a particular group

The movie is classified as a comedy.

The vehicle is classified as a truck.

classifiable

ˌkla-sə-ˈfī-ə-bəl 

adjective

Synonyms of classify

• rank
• distinguish
• categorize
• relegate
• group
• distribute
• type
• grade
• identify
• sort
• separate

Examples of classify in a Sentence

Students will be learning about the ways scientists classify animals.

The online system can classify books by subject.

Recent Examples on the Web

But the group is also a kind of filter, a place where women from all ethnic backgrounds (a laudable aspect of the screenplay is the refusal to overtly classify the participants as Hutu or Tutsi) may exorcize some of their pain and anger before addressing the Gacaca. —Jessica Kiang, Variety, 26 May 2026

Attribution remains debated in public reporting, even as authorities classify it among the most serious attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure in recent years. —Joern Hackbarth, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026

Researchers debuted an inventory for classifying apocalyptic belief, comprising anthropogenic causality, theogenic causality, imminence, personal control, and the question of whether the end is a good or bad thing. —Wyatt Williams, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 2026

Last week, Tedros classified the Ebola outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern – one level below a pandemic in the United Nations agency's alert system. —Youri Benadjaoud, ABC News, 26 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

probably in part a back-formation from classification, in part from class entry 1 + -ify

First Known Use

1776, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for classify

• abscissae
• adonai
• alibi
• alkali
• alumni
• amoebae
• amplify
• annuli
• beautify
• brachii
• butterfly
• calculi

Kids Definition

classify

verb

clas·​si·​fy ˈklas-ə-ˌfī 

classified; classifying

: to arrange in or assign to classes

classify books by subjects

classifiable

-ˌfī-ə-bəl 

adjective

classifier

-ˌfī(-ə)r

noun

Medical Definition

classify

transitive verb

clas·​si·​fy ˈklas-ə-ˌfī 

classified; classifying

: to arrange in classes that have systematic relations usually founded on common properties

how would you classify these animals