category

noun

cat·​e·​go·​ry ˈka-tə-ˌgȯr-ē 

plural categories

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

• bracket
• class
• classification
• division
• family
• genus
• grade
• group
• kind
• league
• order
• rank(s)
• rubric
• set
• species
• tier
• type

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

In the miscellaneous social science category, the University of Michigan topped the list followed by UCLA; University of Maryland; Harvard University; and the University of Wisconsin, Madison. —Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025

For the film, Grande is running in the supporting actress category. —Daniel D'addario, Variety, 2 Jan. 2025

The proposal would raise the rate from 12 percent to 18 percent for the category of goods ranging in price from 1,500 rupees ($17.55) to 10,000 rupees ($117). —Mayu Saini, Sourcing Journal, 2 Jan. 2025

And certain categories of traffic fatalities — including pedestrian deaths — crept upward in 2024, according to city data, stirring concerns in a place that prides itself on being walkable. —Lola Fadulu, New York Times, 1 Jan. 2025

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

Kids Definition

category

noun

cat·​e·​go·​ry ˈkat-ə-ˌgōr-ē 

-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