Dictionary.com
definitions
  • synonyms

classify

[klas-uh-fahy]
See more synonyms on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object), clas·si·fied, clas·si·fy·ing.
  1. to arrange or organize by classes; order according to class.
  2. to assign a classification to (information, a document, etc.).Compare classification(def 5).
  3. to limit the availability of (information, a document, etc.) to authorized persons.

Origin of classify

1790–1800; < Latin classi(s) class + -fy
Related formsclas·si·fi·a·ble, adjectivemis·clas·si·fy, verb (used with object), mis·clas·si·fied, mis·clas·si·fy·ing.non·clas·si·fi·a·ble, adjectiveo·ver·clas·si·fy, verb (used with object), o·ver·clas·si·fied, o·ver·clas·si·fy·ing.pre·clas·si·fy, verb (used with object), pre·clas·si·fied, pre·clas·si·fy·ing.un·clas·si·fi·a·ble, adjectiveun·clas·si·fi·a·ble·ness, nounun·clas·si·fi·a·bly, adverbun·clas·si·fy·ing, adjective

Synonyms

See more synonyms on Thesaurus.com
1. class, rank, rate, categorize, group.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for classify

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • She was moved by some emotion, but he was unable, for the moment, to classify it.

    The Avenger

    E. Phillips Oppenheim

  • "Oh, if you like, I will classify all our acquaintances for you," replied Claude.

  • Then he went back to the press to classify this new document in it.

    Doctor Pascal

    Emile Zola

  • How, while mankind were disputing about universals, could they classify phenomena?

  • It remains to combine and classify the materials thus verified.

British Dictionary definitions for classify

classify

verb -fies, -fying or -fied (tr)
  1. to arrange or order by classes; categorize
  2. government to declare (information, documents, etc) of possible aid to an enemy and therefore not available to people outside a restricted group
Derived Formsclassifiable, adjectiveclassifier, noun

Word Origin

C18: back formation from classification
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for classify

v.

1782, from French classifier, from classe (see class (n.)) + -fier (see -fy). Related: Classified; classifying.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper