stratify

verb

strat·​i·​fy ˈstra-tə-ˌfī How to pronounce stratify (audio)
stratified; stratifying

transitive verb

1
: to form, deposit, or arrange in strata
2
a
: to divide or arrange into classes, castes, or social strata
b
: to divide into a series of graded statuses

intransitive verb

: to become arranged in strata

Examples of stratify in a Sentence

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.
Earlier clinical trials lumped together people with all kinds of long COVID symptoms; now, researchers are increasingly stratifying patients by symptoms in the hopes of targeting specific biological pathways with their treatments. The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 May 2025 The organizations were stratified so that companies with 1,000 to 5,000 employees were deemed midsize, while companies with more than 5,000 employees were considered large employers. Rachel Rabkin Peachman, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025 Otherwise, there is a risk that learners will be stratified, with the most fortunate receiving both AI and human guidance, and the less resourced having to rely on AI guidance alone. Nisha Talagala, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025 Despite its many flaws and limitations, the system that emerged from these fights is a triumph of social care within a notoriously fractured, privatized, and stratified national healthcare system. Time, 6 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for stratify

Word History

Etymology

New Latin stratificare, from stratum + Latin -ificare -ify

First Known Use

1661, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of stratify was in 1661

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stratify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stratify. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

stratify

verb
strat·​i·​fy ˈstrat-ə-ˌfī How to pronounce stratify (audio)
stratified; stratifying
: to form, deposit, or arrange in layers
stratified rock
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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