categorize

verb

cat·​e·​go·​rize ˈka-ti-gə-ˌrīz 

categorized; categorizing

transitive verb

: to put into a category : classify

Birds are categorized by type in this field manual.

categorization

ˌka-ti-gə-rə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

categorizable

ˌka-ti-gə-ˈrī-zə-bəl 

adjective

Synonyms

• assort
• break down
• class
• classify
• codify
• compartment
• compartmentalize
• digest
• distinguish
• distribute
• grade
• group
• peg
• place
• range
• rank
• relegate
• separate
• sort
• type

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

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

Word History

Etymology

see category

First Known Use

1705, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

categorize

verb

cat·​e·​go·​rize ˈkat-i-gə-ˌrīz 

categorized; categorizing

: to put into a category : classify

categorization

ˌkat-i-gə-rə-ˈzā-shən 

noun