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

Expanding categorical exclusions would allow low-risk projects to bypass NEPA’s unnecessary analysis requirements. —James Broughel, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2025

And the numbers are even lower in the many states passing categorical bans on sports participation for transgender athletes of all ages. —Chase Strangio, TIME, 21 Jan. 2025

The policy ordered by President Trump undermines that goal by mandating a categorical rule that overrides the discretion of prison officials. —Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025

President Joe Biden’s decision to go back on his word and issue a categorical pardon for his son, Hunter, just weeks before his scheduled sentencing on gun and tax convictions was a surprise that wasn’t all that surprising. —Colleen Long, Fortune, 3 Dec. 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

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

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