classify
verb
clas·si·fy
ˈkla-sə-ˌfī 
classified; classifying
1
: to arrange in classes (see class entry 1 sense 3)
classifying books according to subject matter
2
: to consider (someone or something) as belonging to a particular group
The movie is classified as a comedy.
The vehicle is classified as a truck.
Examples of classify in a Sentence
Students will be learning about the ways scientists classify animals.
The online system can classify books by subject.
Recent Examples on the Web
These would be plants that are classified as natives.
—
Chris McKeown, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 Sep. 2025
While the majority of those labor force gains were from those classified as employed, the increase in those unemployed was largely attributed to those who re-entered the labor market and are searching for jobs.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025
The tornado would be classified at the top of the Fujita Scale — an F5 — with gusts of more than 200 mph.
—Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 5 Sep. 2025
The star, classified as IRAS 04302+2247, or IRAS 04302, is a protostar, with its disk measuring at around 40 billion miles (65 billion km) wide.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for classify
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Chris McKeown, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 Sep. 2025
While the majority of those labor force gains were from those classified as employed, the increase in those unemployed was largely attributed to those who re-entered the labor market and are searching for jobs.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025
The tornado would be classified at the top of the Fujita Scale — an F5 — with gusts of more than 200 mph.
—Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 5 Sep. 2025
The star, classified as IRAS 04302+2247, or IRAS 04302, is a protostar, with its disk measuring at around 40 billion miles (65 billion km) wide.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for classify
Cite this Entry
“Classify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/classify. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
classify
verb
clas·si·fy
ˈklas-ə-ˌfī
classified; classifying
: to arrange in or assign to classes
classify books by subjects
classifier
noun
-ˌfī(-ə)r
Medical Definition
classify
transitive verb
clas·si·fy
ˈklas-ə-ˌfī
classified; classifying
: to arrange in classes that have systematic relations usually founded on common properties
how would you classify these animals
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