category

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

noun

, plural cat·e·go·ries.

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. categories. Also called Guggenheim. (used with a singular verb) 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

These include a controversial category of apps known as “spyware” or “stalkerware,” which governments or controlling partners install on victims’ phones to track them in secret.

From Fortune

TikTok allows only one brand to take over a category each day, meaning that your ad will play on a single day only.

From Search Engine Watch

In past weeks, recipients from various categories were presented awards during a series of intimate and technically seamless Zoom sessions.

From Washington Blade

The former category typically is used for those expected to last less than one year and the latter for one to four years, although each can be extended up to twice as long with OPM approval.

From Washington Post

Some upcoming events don’t fit in our regular fall arts categories.

From Washington Blade

Veep Two HBO comedies make it into the Best Comedy category and neither of them are Veep?

From The Daily Beast

God kills every living thing (non-fish, non-Noah category) in a global flood.

From The Daily Beast

Five years later she would be the first woman to win a Monster Jam Finals Championship in the freestyle category.

From The Daily Beast

That goes without saying, as no one woman could aptly represent everyone who identifies within that category.

From The Daily Beast

Most of us in that category can remember the thrill of seeing our words appear in public for the first time.

From The Daily Beast

But we must not class in this unclean category Lord Spunyarn and his friend Haggard, who were both playing at the big table.

From Project Gutenberg

Still, I mean no offence when I put tea in the same category with Tobacco.

From Project Gutenberg

The insurgent troops were included in the above category, but their arms were restored to them on their leaving the city.

From Project Gutenberg

The strong probability is that this gland belongs in the same category with other embryonic survivals yet to be pointed out.

From Project Gutenberg

This category includes domestic help and other forms of personalized aid.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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