classification

[klas-uh-fi-key-shuhn]

noun

1. the act of classifying.

2. the result of classifying or being classified. classify.

3. one of the groups or classes into which things may be or have been classified. classify.

4. Biology.,  the assignment of organisms to groups within a system of categories distinguished by structure, origin, etc. The usual series of categories is phylum (or, especially in botany,division ), class, order, family, genus, species, and variety.

5. the category, as restricted, confidential, secret, or top secret, to which information, a document, etc., is assigned, as by a government or military agency, based on the degree of protection considered necessary to safeguard it from unauthorized use.

6. Library Science.,  any of various systems for arranging books and other materials, especially according to subject or format.

classification

/ ˌklæsɪfɪˈkeɪʃən /

noun

1. systematic placement in categories

2. one of the divisions in a system of classifying

3. biology

   1. the placing of animals and plants in a series of increasingly specialized groups because of similarities in structure, origin, molecular composition, etc, that indicate a common relationship. The major groups are domain or superkingdom, kingdom, phylum (in animals) or division (in plants), class, order, family, genus, and species

   2. the study of the principles and practice of this process; taxonomy

4. government the designation of an item of information as being secret and not available to people outside a restricted group

classification

1. The systematic grouping of organisms according to the structural or evolutionary relationships among them. Organisms are normally classified by observed similarities in their body and cell structure or by evolutionary relationships based on the analysis of sequences of their DNA.

2. See more at cladistics Linnean See Table at taxonomy

Other Word Forms

• classificatory adjective
• clasificatorily adverb
• classificational adjective
• misclassification noun
• nonclassification noun
• overclassification noun
• preclassification noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of classification¹

1780–90; < Latin classi ( s ) class + -fication

Word History and Origins

Origin of classification¹

C18: from French; see _class , _-ify , _-ation

Example Sentences

The government has introduced a classification system to define what food and drinks are classed as unhealthy, which is based on the products thought to have most influence on child obesity.

From BBC

And I think this will be the nicest minor league stadium in the country, regardless of classification.”

From Los Angeles Times

While Ganna's fast finish ensured he pipped Vine, all eyes were focused on the battle at the top of the general classification.

From BBC

Immigrant detainees are given blue, orange or red uniforms, depending on their classification level.

From Los Angeles Times

As it became apparent that not all viruses behaved alike, Baltimore launched a new classification system, one that is still in use, grouping them by families according to their genomes and replication systems.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• allocation 
• allotment 
• analysis 
• arrangement 
• coordination 
• designation 
• distribution 
• grade 
• regulation