categorize

verb

cat·​e·​go·​rize ˈka-ti-gə-ˌrīz How to pronounce categorize (audio)
categorized; categorizing

transitive verb

: to put into a category : classify
Birds are categorized by type in this field manual.
categorization noun
categorizable adjective

Examples of categorize in a Sentence

This software lets you categorize your photographs in many different ways. Their opinions can be categorized as conservative. Birds are categorized by type in this field guide.
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.
Trump already signed an executive order proclaiming that all people must be categorized as either men or women, a move that could pave the way to widespread discriminatory practices against transgender and non-binary people. Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 27 Jan. 2025 The galleries are categorized according to three themes — religion, kingship, and society — and divided into historical eras: Predynastic, the Old Kingdom, the Middle Kingdom, the Late Kingdom, Ptolemaic (Greek) Egypt, and the Roman period. Kate McMahon, Travel + Leisure, 25 Jan. 2025 In knowledge management, traditional AI systems can categorize and retrieve information efficiently, allowing organizations to store and access their knowledge more easily. Daniel Fallmann, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025 In 2018, the FBI categorized the Proud Boys as an extremist group with ties to white nationalism. Will Carless, USA TODAY, 22 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for categorize 

Word History

Etymology

see category

First Known Use

1705, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of categorize was in 1705

Dictionary Entries Near categorize

Cite this Entry

“Categorize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/categorize. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

categorize

verb
cat·​e·​go·​rize ˈkat-i-gə-ˌrīz How to pronounce categorize (audio)
categorized; categorizing
: to put into a category : classify
categorization noun

More from Merriam-Webster on categorize

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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