reclassify

verb

re·​clas·​si·​fy (ˌ)rē-ˈkla-sə-ˌfī How to pronounce reclassify (audio)
reclassified; reclassifying; reclassifies
Synonyms of reclassifynext

transitive verb

: to move from one class, classification, or category to another : to classify again
… in the 1980s, amphetamines were reclassified as controlled substances, which restricted their availability.Stephen Rae
reclassify the product to boost sales

Examples of reclassify in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But Newsom was also an enthusiastic backer of Proposition 47, passed in 2014, which reclassified shoplifting offenses under $950 from felonies to misdemeanors, and also reduced charges for lower-level drug possession. Bret Stephens, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026 Last but not least, these major players in the auto industry urge the federal government not to reclassify more vehicles as cars rather than light trucks. Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 5 Feb. 2026 By Monday evening, investigators said evidence inside the home prompted them to reclassify the case from a missing-person search to a potential crime, adding that the search for Nancy Guthrie should stretch across the nation. Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 3 Feb. 2026 Within days of the executive order, OPM issued formal government-wide implementation guidance clarifying how agencies should identify and reclassify covered positions. James Broughel, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for reclassify

Word History

First Known Use

1837, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of reclassify was in 1837

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Reclassify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reclassify. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on reclassify

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster