class

1 of 2

noun

plural classes
often attributive
1
a
: a body of students meeting regularly to study the same subject
Several students in the class are absent today.
b
: the period during which such a body meets
c
: a course of instruction
is doing well in her algebra class
d
: a body of students or alumni whose year of graduation is the same
donated by the class of 1995
2
a
: a group sharing the same economic or social status
the working class
b
: social rank
especially : high social rank
the classes as opposed to the masses
c
: high quality : elegance
a hotel with class
3
: a group, set, or kind sharing common attributes: such as
a
: a major category in biological taxonomy ranking above the order and below the phylum or division
b
: a collection of adjacent and discrete or continuous values of a random variable
c
: a collection of elements (such as numbers or points) : set sense 21
d
: a property of a geometric curve that is equal to the number of tangents that can be drawn to it through any point not on the curve
A curve is said to be of the nth degree or order when any right line meets it in n points and of the nth class when n tangents can be drawn to it through any assumed point.George Salmon
4
: a division or rating based on grade or quality
a class B movie
5
: the best of its kind
the class of the league
6
: a data type in object-oriented programming that consists of a group of objects (see object entry 1 sense 6a) with the same properties and behaviors and that can be arranged in a hierarchy with other such data types

class

2 of 2

verb

classed; classing; classes

transitive verb

: classify
She was classed as a part-time worker.

Examples of class in a Sentence

Noun There are 20 students in the class. Several people in the class are absent today. This class is really difficult. He will be teaching an American history class next semester. The college offers classes in computer programming and engineering. She is taking a class on psychology. What classes are you taking this semester? I have an English class this morning. My class got out early today. I have already missed two classes. Verb I would class that suggestion as helpful, so let's make a note of it.
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Noun
The two said working class concerns, immigration and the border were their biggest concerns headed into the election. Detroit Free Press Staff, Detroit Free Press, 6 Nov. 2024 There are activities along the way, including a French cooking class. Dave Quinn, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
There are lots of different types of PAHs, many of which have been classed by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as possible or probable carcinogens (chemicals that cause cancer in humans). Nina Turner, Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2024 Tech stocks and small caps tend to be classed as growth stocks, which are expected to rise at a faster rate than the rest of the market. Weizhen Tan,katrina Bishop, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for class 

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

French classe, from Latin classis group called to military service, fleet, class; perhaps akin to Latin calare to call — more at low entry 3

First Known Use

Noun

1583, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Verb

1642, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of class was in 1583

Dictionary Entries Near class

Cite this Entry

“Class.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/class. Accessed 12 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

class

1 of 2 noun
1
a
: a group of students meeting regularly to study the same subject
b
: the period during which such a group meets
c
: a course of instruction
d
: a group of students who graduate together
class of 1990
2
a
: a group or rank of society
the working class
b
: high social rank
c
: high quality : elegance sense 2
a hotel with class
3
a
: a group or set alike in some way
b
: a major category in biological classification that is above the order and below the phylum or division
c
: a grouping or standing (as of goods or services) based on quality
classless
-ləs
adjective

class

2 of 2 verb

Medical Definition

class

noun
often attributive
: a group, set, or kind marked by common attributes or a common attribute
especially : a major category in biological taxonomy ranking above the order and below the phylum or division
the class Mammalia

Legal Definition

class

noun
: a group of persons or things having characteristics in common: as
a
: a group of persons who have some common relationship to a person making a will and are designated to receive a gift under the will but whose identities will not be determined until sometime in the future see also class gift at gift
b
: a group of securities (as stocks or bonds) having similar distinguishing features (as voting rights or priority of redemption)
c
: a group whose members are represented in a class action
e
: a group of crimes forming a category distinguished by a common characteristic (as the use of violence or the requirement for a maximum penalty)
murder is a class A felony

More from Merriam-Webster on class

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