category

[kat-i-gawr-ee, -gohr-ee]

noun

plural

categories 

1. any general or comprehensive division; a class.

   Synonyms: type, grouping, group

2. a classificatory division in any field of knowledge, as a phylum or any of its subdivisions in biology.

3. Metaphysics.

   1. (in Aristotelian philosophy) any of the fundamental modes of existence, such as substance, quality, and quantity, as determined by analysis of the different possible kinds of predication.

   2. (in Kantian philosophy) any of the fundamental principles of the understanding, as the principle of causation.

   3. any classification of terms that is ultimate and not susceptible to further analysis.

4. Also called Guggenheim. (used with a singular verb),  categories. a game in which a key word and a list of categories, as dogs, automobiles, or rivers, are selected, and in which each player writes down a word in each category that begins with each of the letters of the key word, the player writing down the most words within a time limit being declared the winner.

5. Mathematics.,  a type of mathematical object, as a set, group, or metric space, together with a set of mappings from such an object to other objects of the same type.

6. Grammar.,  part of speech.

category

/ ˈkætɪɡərɪ /

noun

1. a class or group of things, people, etc, possessing some quality or qualities in common; a division in a system of classification

2. metaphysics any one of the most basic classes into which objects and concepts can be analysed

3. 1. (in the philosophy of Aristotle) any one of ten most fundamental modes of being, such as quantity, quality, and substance

   2. (in the philosophy of Kant) one of twelve concepts required by human beings to interpret the empirical world

   3. any set of objects, concepts, or expressions distinguished from others within some logical or linguistic theory by the intelligibility of a specific set of statements concerning them See also category mistake

Word History and Origins

Origin of category¹

First recorded in 1580–90; from Late Latin catēgoria, from Greek katēgoría “accusation” (in logic, “predication”), from katēgoreîn “to accuse, affirm,” from kata- cata- + agoreúein “to speak before the agora ¹ ” + -ia -y ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of category¹

C15: from Late Latin catēgoria, from Greek katēgoria, from kategorein to accuse, assert

Example Sentences

Similarly, the work requirements would apply to residents ages 18 to 61 who are not disabled, pregnant, primary caretakers of young children, college students or in other exempted categories.

From Salon

On Tuesday, Young was nominated in the UK Music Video Award's best pop music video category for One Thing, a song on her recently released album I'm Only F****** Myself.

From BBC

The deadline for countries to submit movies for the 2026 Oscars’ international feature category arrives Wednesday.

From Los Angeles Times

In each of the last four categories, he leads the team.

From Los Angeles Times

"I've had different partners over the years and have had some success. I would definitely not put myself in that category."

From BBC

Related Words

• class 
• division 
• grade 
• group 
• kind 
• league 
• level 
• list 
• rank 
• section 
• tier