classify

[klas-uh-fahy]

verb (used with object)

classified, classifying 

1. to arrange or organize by classes; order according to class.

   Synonyms: group, categorize, rate, rank, class

2. to assign a classification to (information, a document, etc.).

3. to limit the availability of (information, a document, etc.) to authorized persons.

classify

/ ˈklæsɪˌfaɪ /

verb

1. to arrange or order by classes; categorize

2. government to declare (information, documents, etc) of possible aid to an enemy and therefore not available to people outside a restricted group

Other Word Forms

• classifiable adjective
• misclassify verb (used with object)
• nonclassifiable adjective
• overclassify verb (used with object)
• preclassify verb (used with object)
• unclassifiable adjective
• unclassifiableness noun
• unclassifiably adverb
• unclassifying adjective
• classifier noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of classify¹

First recorded in 1790–1800; from Latin classi(s) class + -fy

Word History and Origins

Origin of classify¹

C18: back formation from _{classification}

Example Sentences

Mr Comey is accused of lying to a Senate committee in 2020 about whether he authorised a leak to the media of classified information.

From BBC

When California voters passed Proposition 22, the ballot measure the companies funded in 2020, drivers were classified as independent contractors who, under federal law, do not have the right to organize.

From Los Angeles Times

Those stemmed from the FBI’s raid on Mar-a-Lago in August 2022, which uncovered dozens of boxes of highly classified documents stored in insecure settings.

From Salon

Senate Bill 323 is the second bill introduced in the state legislature this year that would classify a fetus as a human being from fertilization, effectively categorizing abortion as homicide.

From Salon

This snake is classified as a stray and is not currently available for adoption.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• allocate 
• analyze 
• arrange 
• distribute 
• divide 
• label 
• organize 
• segregate