classify

verb

clas·​si·​fy ˈkla-sə-ˌfī How to pronounce classify (audio)
classified; classifying

transitive verb

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.
classifiable adjective

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
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.
The county classified fewer than 25,000 homes as attainable in 2024 — compared to nearly 100,000 in 2018. Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 1 Apr. 2025 If the rating agencies and regulators classify Bit Bonds as risk-free or near risk-free because the principal is sovereign-backed, these institutions might be able to deploy significant capital into them. Dave Birnbaum, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025 After the Trump administration repeatedly insisted the information was not classified, Goldberg and his colleagues at The Atlantic decided to publish subsequent reporting containing the messages. Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 30 Mar. 2025 There have been very strong denials from the administration that there was anything classified. ABC News, 30 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for classify

Word History

Etymology

probably in part a back-formation from classification, in part from class entry 1 + -ify

First Known Use

1776, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of classify was in 1776

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Classify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/classify. Accessed 9 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

classify

verb
clas·​si·​fy ˈklas-ə-ˌfī How to pronounce classify (audio)
classified; classifying
: to arrange in or assign to classes
classify books by subjects
classifiable adjective
classifier
-ˌfī(-ə)r
noun

Medical Definition

classify

transitive verb
clas·​si·​fy ˈklas-ə-ˌfī How to pronounce classify (audio)
classified; classifying
: to arrange in classes that have systematic relations usually founded on common properties
how would you classify these animals

More from Merriam-Webster on classify

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