classifies; classified; classifying
1
: to arrange (people or things) into groups based on ways that they are alike
Students will be learning about the ways scientists classify animals.
The online system can classify books by subject.
—often used as (be) classifiedDrugs are classified into different categories.
classified according to size/weight
2
: to consider (someone or something) as belonging to a particular group
As a singer, she is hard to classify. = It is hard to classify her as a singer [=to decide what type of singer she is]
—often + asThe movie had some funny parts, but I wouldn't classify it as a comedy.
—often used as (be) classifiedThe vehicle is classified as a truck.
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“Classify.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/classify. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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