category

noun

cat·​e·​go·​ry ˈka-tə-ˌgȯr-ē How to pronounce category (audio)
plural categories
Synonyms of categorynext
1
: any of several fundamental and distinct classes to which entities or concepts belong
Taxpayers fall into one of several categories.
2
: a division within a system of classification
She competed for the award in her age category.

Synonyms

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 

Examples of category in a Sentence

The cars belong to the same category. Taxpayers fall into one of several categories. She competed for the award in her age category.
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.
Eight companies received the highest scores in this category: Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft, Netflix, NVIDIA, Oracle, SAP, and Toll Brothers. —Heather Newman, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024 The classics are driving searches in the men’s category as well. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 21 Nov. 2024 Here's a list of winners in the night's biggest categories, per USA Today. —Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 21 Nov. 2024 For more information and further details of the categories of the Sony Future Filmmaker Awards 2025, please visit sonyfuturefilmmakerawards.com. —Brian Welk, IndieWire, 21 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for category 

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin categoria, from Greek katēgoria predication, category, from katēgorein to accuse, affirm, predicate, from kata- + agora public assembly, from ageirein to gather

First Known Use

1588, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of category was in 1588

Dictionary Entries Near category

categorize

category

category killer

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Category.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/category. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

category

noun
cat·​e·​go·​ry ˈkat-ə-ˌgōr-ē How to pronounce category (audio)
-ˌgȯr-
plural categories
1
: one of the divisions or groupings used in a system of classification
"species" and "genus" are biological categories
2
: class entry 1 sense 3a, kind

More from Merriam-Webster on category

Nglish: Translation of category for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of category for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about category

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