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
That tally ranks the bestselling full-lengths and EPs that can be classified by the Official Charts Company as hip-hop, rap, R&B or some other subgenre connected to those styles.
—
Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Sabato's Crystal Ball also classifies the race as leaning toward Republicans.
—Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
In humans, babies rely on words for early perceptual categorization, but preferentially using an object's function over perceptual similarity to classify things doesn't emerge until the toddler or preschool stage.
—Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 18 Sep. 2025
The agencies announced in July their intention to have 7-OH classified as a Schedule I drug.
—Kansas City Star, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for classify
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Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Sabato's Crystal Ball also classifies the race as leaning toward Republicans.
—Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
In humans, babies rely on words for early perceptual categorization, but preferentially using an object's function over perceptual similarity to classify things doesn't emerge until the toddler or preschool stage.
—Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 18 Sep. 2025
The agencies announced in July their intention to have 7-OH classified as a Schedule I drug.
—Kansas City Star, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for classify
Cite this Entry
“Classify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/classify. Accessed 25 Sep. 2025.
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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