categorical

American  

[kat-i-gawr-i-kuhl, -gor-] / ˌkæt ɪˈgɔr ɪ kəl, -ˈgɒr- /

Also categoric

adjective

1. without exceptions or conditions; absolute; unqualified and unconditional.

   a categorical denial.

   Synonyms:

   downright, flat, positive

2. Logic.

   1. (of a proposition) analyzable into a subject and an attribute related by a copula, as in the proposition “All humans are mortal.”

   2. (of a syllogism) having categorical propositions as premises.

3. of, relating to, or in a category.

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categorical British  

/ ˌkætɪˈɡɒrɪkəl /

adjective

1. unqualified; positive; unconditional

   a categorical statement

2. relating to or included in a category

3. logic another word for categorial

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Other Word Forms

• categorically adverb
• categoricalness noun
• noncategorical adjective
• noncategoricalness noun
• uncategorical adjective
• uncategoricalness noun

Etymology

Origin of categorical

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Late Latin catēgoric(us) (from Greek katēgorikós; category, -ic ) + -al ¹

Example Sentences

The reported comments are more categorical than previous remarks he has made about Rayner, who was also deputy Labour leader and housing secretary.

From BBC

"The difference between humans and chimpanzees isn't a categorical leap. It's more like a continuum," Sanford said.

From Science Daily

Recognizing the categorical difference between occurrence and existence resolves these paradoxes.

From Science Daily

His proposed dimensional model focuses on symptom profiles rather than categorical labels, offering clinicians more nuanced tools for patient assessment and treatment planning.

From Science Daily

Could he give a categorical assurance that the next time he meets these MPs there won't have been another scandal?

From BBC

Related Words

• absolute
• clear-cut
• definite
• definitive
• emphatic
• forthright
• unambiguous
• unequivocal