type 1 of 2

type

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word type distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of type are character, description, kind, nature, and sort. While all these words 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

When can character be used instead of type?

While the synonyms character and type are close in meaning, character implies a group marked by distinctive likenesses peculiar to the type.

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

When is it sensible to use description instead of type?

The words description and type can be used in similar contexts, but 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

When might kind be a better fit than type?

The synonyms kind and type are sometimes interchangeable, but kind may suggest natural grouping.

a zoo seemingly having animals of every kind

When could nature be used to replace type?

Although the words nature and type have much in common, nature may imply inherent, essential resemblance rather than obvious or superficial likenesses.

two problems of a similar nature

When is sort a more appropriate choice than type?

While in some cases nearly identical to type, sort often suggests some disparagement.

the sort of newspaper dealing in sensational stories

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of type
Verb
The pattern interrupt post Statements that challenge assumptions get people typing. Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025 To search the restaurant inspections, type in a keyword or restaurant name. Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Aug. 2025 Still, residents can see whether the holiday will impact their regular pickup schedule by typing in their zip code on the Rumpke site. Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer, 27 Aug. 2025 Woods typed right after Fleetwood's win. Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for type
Recent Examples of Synonyms for type
Noun
  • Given the number of works Apple may have infringed upon, the plaintiffs, Hendrix and Roberson, have requested the court to turn their complaint into a class action and block the company from further infringement of this kind.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 8 Sep. 2025
  • The lawsuit, which was first reported by Courthouse News, is one of the first of its kind and could set meaningful precedent for AI abuses in the future.
    Kyle Ingram, Charlotte Observer, 7 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • While Greene didn't win in the best supporting actor category, the movie was named the year's Best Picture.
    Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 3 Sep. 2025
  • When inquiring about a networking organization, understanding the differences among the most prominent categories could further inform a business owner’s decisions.
    Nia Bowers, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The star, classified as IRAS 04302+2247, or IRAS 04302, is a protostar, with its disk measuring at around 40 billion miles (65 billion km) wide.
    Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 4 Sep. 2025
  • It was classified as a heritage site in 1995 and then as a national monument in 1997.
    Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Bieber himself was aware of the anxiety over the delays and posted a couple messages on his Instagram that there seemed to be a technical delay of some sort.
    Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2025
  • In practice, the humanoid can stack, sort, and arrange dishes with care that mirrors human handling.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Everytown for Gun Safety, an organization lobbying for greater gun control across the country, ranks Minnesota 14th in the nation on gun law strength.
    Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 4 Sep. 2025
  • The most recent edition of Deloitte’s Football Money League, which ranks clubs worldwide by revenue, had six English clubs (no prizes for guessing which) in the top 10.
    Oliver Kay, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Also starring Selena Gomez, the genre-bending film earned two Academy Awards and four Golden Globes.
    Jacqueline Weiss, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Tou Her is a local Hmong-American artist who works across mediums and genres, from galleries to children’s books.
    Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • War-naming conventions There are a number of different ways in which wars are named, but they can be broadly grouped around place, participants or time.
    Esther Brito Ruiz, The Conversation, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Now the departments are housed under one roof and grouped by areas of overlap instead of major.
    Kelly Meyerhofer, jsonline.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Cotton Modal Crewneck Swing T-shirt For me, stripes equal instant polish.
    Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Now six more schools are getting the three-stripe treatment for 2025 and the collection is out in full.
    Dylan Reffe, The Courier-Journal, 3 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Type.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/type. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on type

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!