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
Ahshiselsaurus wimani was originally classified in 1935 as a specimen of the hadrosaurid genus Kritosaurus, which Malinzak said now, 90 years later, appears to be incorrect, according to a press release.
—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 5 Dec. 2025
Based on this analysis, participants were classified as socially frail, pre-frail or non-frail.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 4 Dec. 2025
The Food and Drug Administration has classified the recall as Class II, meaning exposure may cause temporary or medically reversible health effects, while the risk of serious harm is considered remote.
—Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025
Opponents have warned that the bill would grant sweeping authority to the NCAA and top conferences, particularly through antitrust protections and a provision preventing college athletes from being classified as employees.
—Joey Cappelletti, Fortune, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for classify
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Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 5 Dec. 2025
Based on this analysis, participants were classified as socially frail, pre-frail or non-frail.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 4 Dec. 2025
The Food and Drug Administration has classified the recall as Class II, meaning exposure may cause temporary or medically reversible health effects, while the risk of serious harm is considered remote.
—Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025
Opponents have warned that the bill would grant sweeping authority to the NCAA and top conferences, particularly through antitrust protections and a provision preventing college athletes from being classified as employees.
—Joey Cappelletti, Fortune, 4 Dec. 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 8 Dec. 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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