category

noun

cat·​e·​go·​ry ˈka-tə-ˌgȯr-ē How to pronounce category (audio)
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.

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
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.
Surveying 455 adults, with a margin of error of +/- 4.6 percentage points, the poll only divided the age category into under and over 45 years old. Brady Knox, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 17 Dec. 2024 Perhaps the best example in the latter category is Warner Bros. Discovery‘s TruTV. Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Dec. 2024 The shortlist is created from all eligible submissions, with each category narrowed down to 10-15 movies before the final nominations are announced in January. Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024 The biggest categories—including Best Picture, acting categories, screenplay categories and directing—do not have shortlists, and Academy members will vote from the large pool of submissions with nominees announced in January. Conor Murray, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for category 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of category was in 1588

Dictionary Entries Near category

Cite this Entry

“Category.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/category. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

category

noun
cat·​e·​go·​ry ˈkat-ə-ˌgōr-ē How to pronounce category (audio)
-ˌgȯr-
plural categories
1
: one of the divisions or groupings used in a system of classification
"species" and "genus" are biological categories
2

More from Merriam-Webster on category

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