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
Despite the depth and breadth of his transactions, Sweeney did not classify his work as a teardown.
—
Fluto Shinzawa, The Athletic, 8 Mar. 2025
Using data from nearly 10,000 herbarium specimens, scientists at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History have brought attention to the conservation status of these plants, revealing that 87 species—almost half of the genus—are now classified as threatened with extinction.
—Ella Jeffries, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Mar. 2025
The film’s title refers to a security designation for anything classified that makes trust especially difficult between agents.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 6 Mar. 2025
Domestic violence ‘all about power and control’ Between 2020 and 2024 in Fort Worth, 14% of homicides were classified by the city’s Police Department as domestic violence cases.
—Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for classify
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.
Fluto Shinzawa, The Athletic, 8 Mar. 2025
Using data from nearly 10,000 herbarium specimens, scientists at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History have brought attention to the conservation status of these plants, revealing that 87 species—almost half of the genus—are now classified as threatened with extinction.
—Ella Jeffries, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Mar. 2025
The film’s title refers to a security designation for anything classified that makes trust especially difficult between agents.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 6 Mar. 2025
Domestic violence ‘all about power and control’ Between 2020 and 2024 in Fort Worth, 14% of homicides were classified by the city’s Police Department as domestic violence cases.
—Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Mar. 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 12 Mar. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share