categorical

adjective

cat·​e·​gor·​i·​cal ˌka-tə-ˈgȯr-i-kəl 

-ˈgär-

variants or less commonly categoric

ˌka-tə-ˈgȯr-ik 

-ˈgär-

1

: absolute, unqualified

a categorical denial

2

a

: of, relating to, or constituting a category

b

: involving, according with, or considered with respect to specific categories

a categorical system for classifying books

categorically

ˌka-tə-ˈgȯr-i-k(ə-)lē 

-ˈgär-

adverb

Did you know?

The ancestor of categorical and category has been important in logic and philosophy since the days of Aristotle. Both English words come from the Greek word katēgoria, which Aristotle used to name the ten fundamental classes (also called "predications" or "assertions") of terms, things, or ideas into which he felt human knowledge could be organized. Ironically, although those categories and things categorical are supposed to be absolute and fundamental, philosophers have long argued about the number and type of categories that exist and the role they play in our understanding of the world. High-level philosophical disputes aside, the word categorical continues to sometimes describe an absolute assertion, one that involves no conditions or hypotheses—for example, the statement "hot dogs are sandwiches all humans are mortal."

Synonyms

• absolute
• all-out
• arrant
• blank
• blooming [chiefly British]
• bodacious [Southern & Midland]
• clean
• complete
• consummate
• crashing
• damn
• damned
• dead
• deadly
• definite
• downright
• dreadful
• fair
• flat
• flat-out
• out-and-out
• outright
• perfect
• plumb
• profound
• pure
• rank
• regular
• sheer
• simple
• stark
• stone
• straight-out
• thorough
• thoroughgoing
• total
• unadulterated
• unalloyed
• unconditional
• unmitigated
• unqualified
• utter
• very

Examples of categorical in a Sentence

He issued a categorical denial about his involvement in the deal.

a categorical denial of the rumors that the celebrities were planning to get married

Recent Examples on the Web

Trump election case is tossed after special counsel Jack Smith requests dismissal citing 'categorical' DOJ policy Could Trump be held liable for alleged pressure on then-Vice President Mike Pence to unilaterally reject the 2020 election outcome? —Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 27 Nov. 2024

Enforcing categorical policies about evictions and criminal histories harms otherwise-qualified Black applicants, the lawsuits say. —Gretchen Morgenson, NBC News, 21 Nov. 2024

Canada has said Sikhs have a right to peaceful protest and Trudeau has largely avoided categorical condemnation of Sikh separatism. —Lex Harvey, CNN, 29 Nov. 2024

Differentiation centers on categorical comparisons, where distinctiveness, on the other hand, majors in being memorable and recognizable, regardless of the category. —Dr. Marcus Collins, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin categoricus, from Greek katēgorikos, from katēgoria — see category

First Known Use

1588, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing categorical

• categorical imperative

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Kids Definition

categorical

adjective

cat·​e·​gor·​i·​cal ˌkat-ə-ˈgȯr-i-kəl 

-gär-

variants also categoric

-ik 

1

: not restricted or limited in any way : absolute

a categorical denial

2

: of, relating to, or being a category

categorically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb