classifier

[ klas-uh-fahy-er ]

/ ˈklæs əˌfaɪ ər /

noun

a person or thing that classifies.

a device for separating solids of different characteristics by controlled rates of settling.

Grammar. (in Chinese, Japanese, and other languages) a word or morpheme that corresponds to a semantic class of nouns and regularly accompanies any noun of that class in certain syntactic constructions, such as those of numeration.

Nearby words

classificatory, classified, classified ad, classified advertising, classifieds, classifier, classify, classis, classism, classless, classmate

Origin of classifier

First recorded in 1810–20; classify + -er¹

Examples from the Web for classifier

The determination of what constitutes a definite ending will depend, of course, upon the good judgment of the classifier.
The Science of Fingerprints|Federal Bureau of Investigation
For in the sphere of human beliefs, the student is much more than an outside observer and classifier.
New Ideas in India During the Nineteenth Century|John Morrison
We will help you to work it out by giving you what is called a Classifier which will make it easy to decipher the verse.
Ciphers For the Little Folks|Dorothy Crain
It is necessary, therefore, to leave to the judgment of the classifier the propriety of cross-referencing unclaimed disclosures.
The Classification of Patents|United States Patent Office

Then there was the collector of plants and classifier of his finds, and an arranger of all he could get by exchange or otherwise.
Appletons' Popular Science Monthly, November 1899|Various