classify
verb
clas·si·fy
ˈkla-sə-ˌfī 
classified; classifying
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.
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
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified white sharks as an animal vulnerable to extinction and estimates that the population has fallen by 30-49% over the past three generations due to factors including overfishing and the impact of climate change.
—
Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 9 June 2026
The chambers are classified as a medical device, and physicians must order and supervise hyperbaric oxygen treatments.
—Carrie Teegardin, AJC.com, 8 June 2026
While the dog's case was reported by a veterinarian in Texas, the animal lives in New Mexico, the USDA classified as a New Mexico case.
—Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 8 June 2026
How a lump sum gets classified, however, can vary from one court and state to the next, so state law matters significantly here.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for classify
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Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 9 June 2026
The chambers are classified as a medical device, and physicians must order and supervise hyperbaric oxygen treatments.
—Carrie Teegardin, AJC.com, 8 June 2026
While the dog's case was reported by a veterinarian in Texas, the animal lives in New Mexico, the USDA classified as a New Mexico case.
—Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 8 June 2026
How a lump sum gets classified, however, can vary from one court and state to the next, so state law matters significantly here.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for classify
Cite this Entry
“Classify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/classify. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
classify
verb
clas·si·fy
ˈklas-ə-ˌfī
classified; classifying
: to arrange in or assign to classes
classify books by subjects
classifier
noun
-ˌfī(-ə)r
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
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