sort

1 of 2

noun

ˈsȯrt 

1

a

: a group set up on the basis of any characteristic in common : class, kind

b

: one approximating the character or qualities of another

a sort of latter-day Abe Lincoln

c

: person, individual

he's not a bad sort

2

archaic : group, company

3

a

archaic : method or manner of acting : way, manner

b

: character, nature

people of an evil sort

4

a

: a letter or character that is one element of a font

b

: a character or piece of type that is not part of a regular font

5

: an instance of sorting

a numeric sort of a data file

sort

2 of 2

verb

sorted; sorting; sorts

transitive verb

1

a

: to put in a certain place or rank according to kind, class, or nature

sort apples

sort mail

b

: to arrange according to characteristics : classify

—usually used with out

sort out colors

2

chiefly Scotland : to put to rights : put in order

3

a

: to examine in order to clarify

—used with out

sorting out his problems

b

: to free of confusion : clarify

—used with out

waited until things sorted themselves out

intransitive verb

1

: to join or associate with others especially of the same kind

sort with thieves

2

: agree, harmonize

his benign view sorts badly with reality

—Henry Trewhitt

3

: search

sort through some old papers

sortable

ˈsȯr-tə-bəl 

adjective

sorter noun

Phrases

after a sort

: in a rough or haphazard way

plays the piano, after a sort

all sorts of

: many different : all kinds of

knows all sorts of people

of sorts or of a sort

: in some respects but not entirely or truly

a vacation of sorts

out of sorts

1

: somewhat ill

2

: grouchy, irritable

Synonyms

Noun

• kind
• type
• stripe
• genre

Verb

• classify
• rank
• type
• distinguish
• group
• relegate
• place
• categorize

Choose the Right Synonym for sort

type, kind, sort, nature, description, character mean a number of individuals thought of as a group because of a common quality or qualities.

type may suggest strong and clearly marked similarity throughout the items included so that each is typical of the group.

one of three basic body types

kind may suggest natural grouping.

a zoo seemingly having animals of every kind

sort often suggests some disparagement.

the sort of newspaper dealing in sensational stories

nature may imply inherent, essential resemblance rather than obvious or superficial likenesses.

two problems of a similar nature

description implies a group marked by agreement in all details belonging to a type as described or defined.

not all acts of that description are actually illegal

character implies a group marked by distinctive likenesses peculiar to the type.

research on the subject so far has been of an elementary character

Examples of sort in a Sentence

Noun

What sort of car do you drive?

He's not a bad sort.

She's not the sort to complain.

The program did a numeric sort of the data.

Verb

She started to sort the mail.

They sorted the winners from the losers.

The program can sort data alphabetically or numerically.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The two benches and dugouts cleared as the two men made momentary physical contact, sparking a brown and blue mosh pit of sorts behind home plate to cap a series that left both sides more black and blue and chapped than anything else. —Dennis Lin, New York Times, 20 June 2025

Trump’s policy agenda, which includes 3 things [1] tariffs, [2] mass deportations, and [3] tax cuts, could create a perfect storm of sorts. —Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025

Verb

To have the attack sorted at such an early stage of the off season is absolutely huge. —Andy Naylor, New York Times, 20 June 2025

Once the fish were sorted, the team transported them to the aquariums, which cared for them until June 17, the university said. —Daniella Segura, Sacbee.com, 20 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, fate, lot, characteristic, from Latin sort-, sors lot, share, category — more at series

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing sort

• mis-sort
• nothing of the sort
• of one kind/sort/type or another
• of the sort
• re-sort
• some kind/sort/type of
• sort myself out
• sort of
• sort out
• sort through

Rhymes for sort

• bort
• corte
• court
• dort
• fort
• mort
• norte
• ort
• port
• porte
• quart
• short

Kids Definition

sort

1 of 2 noun

ˈsȯ(ə)rt 

1

a

: a group of persons or things that have something in common : class

b

: person sense 1, individual

not a bad sort

2

a

archaic : method or manner of acting : way, manner

b

: general disposition : nature

people of an evil sort

sort

2 of 2 verb

1

: to separate and arrange by kind or class : classify

sort mail

sort out socks by color

2

: agree sense 6, suit

our views sort poorly with theirs

3

: search

sort through some old papers

sorter noun