category

noun

cat·​e·​go·​ry ˈka-tə-ˌgȯr-ē 

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.

Synonyms

• bracket
• class
• classification
• division
• family
• genus
• grade
• group
• kind
• league
• order
• rank(s)
• rubric
• set
• species
• tier
• type

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

Working with co-creative directors Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons, sources say he will be focused on the menswear category. —Luisa Zargani, WWD, 17 Mar. 2025

And for anyone who didn't fit in that category, Thursday's performance was a stirring reminder of just how rich and singular the band's catalog really is. —Piet Levy, USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2025

Wrench received a 2023 Grammy nom for Billie Eilish Live at O2 in the Best Music Film category. —Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 17 Mar. 2025

This transaction echoes the year-on-year growth of the functional drink market, especially the better-for-you soda category, with competitor Coca-Cola launching Simply Pop just a few weeks ago and Olipop raising a $50 million Series C, valuing the rival prebiotic soda brand at nearly $2 billion. —Clara Ludmir, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025

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

Rhymes for category

• allegory
• amatory
• auditory
• clerestory
• crematory
• desultory
• dilatory
• dormitory
• excretory
• extempore
• feudatory
• gustatory

Kids Definition

category

noun

cat·​e·​go·​ry ˈkat-ə-ˌgōr-ē 

-ˌgȯr-

plural categories

1

: one of the divisions or groupings used in a system of classification

"species" and "genus" are biological categories

2

: class entry 1 sense 3a, kind