classify

American  

[klas-uh-fahy] / ˈklæs əˌfaɪ /

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.

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classify British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• classifiable adjective
• classifier noun
• 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

Etymology

Origin of classify

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

Example Sentences

Joe Kent is under investigation in connection with alleged leaks of classified information, with sources telling CBS that the probe began before his departure as US National Counterterrorism Center director.

From BBC

Tremolite is a mineral which - when in its fibrous form - is classified as asbestos and linked to potentially deadly cancers.

From BBC

He declined to provide details about the trip, saying it was classified.

From The Wall Street Journal

Platforms like Kalshi and its biggest rival Polymarket remain illegal or unregulated in most countries outside the United States, where regulators have generally classified them as unlicensed gambling.

From Barron's

Among the fugitives captured by Smart Sampa, almost half had their crimes classified as "other."

From Barron's

Related Words

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