a number of things or persons sharing a particular characteristic, or set of characteristics, that causes them to be regarded as a group, more or less precisely defined or designated; class; category.
a criminal of the most vicious type.
a thing or person regarded as a member of a class or category; kind; sort (usually followed byof ).
This is some type of mushroom.
Informal. a person, regarded as reflecting or typifying a certain line of work, environment, etc..
a couple of civil service types.
a thing or person that represents perfectly or in the best way a class or category; model.
the very type of a headmaster.
Printing.
a rectangular piece or block, now usually of metal, having on its upper surface a letter or character in relief.
such pieces or blocks collectively.
a similar piece in a typewriter or the like.
such pieces collectively.
a printed character or printed characters.
a headline in large type.
face.
Biology.
a genus or species that most nearly exemplifies the essential characteristics of a higher group.
the one or more specimens on which the description and naming of a species is based.
Agriculture.
the inherited features of an animal or breed that are favorable for any given purpose.
dairy type.
a strain, breed, or variety of animal, or a single animal, belonging to a specific kind.
Also called type-word. Logic, Linguistics. the general form of a word, expression, symbol, or the like in contrast to its particular instances.
The type “and” in “red and white and blue” has two separate tokens.
the pattern or model from which something is made.
an image or figure produced by impressing or stamping, as the principal figure or device on either side of a coin or medal.
a distinctive or characteristic mark or sign.
a symbol of something in the future, as an Old Testament event serving as a prefiguration of a New Testament event.
Medicine/Medical. blood group.
a kind, class, or category, the constituents of which share similar characteristics
a subdivision of a particular class of things or people; sort
what type of shampoo do you use?
the general form, plan, or design distinguishing a particular group
informal a person who typifies a particular quality
he's the administrative type
informal a person, esp of a specified kind
he's a strange type
a small block of metal or more rarely wood bearing a letter or character in relief for use in printing
such pieces collectively
characters printed from type; print
biology
the taxonomic group the characteristics of which are used for defining the next highest group, for example Rattus norvegicus (brown rat) is the type species of the rat genus Rattus
( as modifier )
a type genus
a type species
See type specimen
the characteristic device on a coin
linguistics a symbol regarded as standing for the class of all symbols identical to it Compare token
logic a class of expressions or of the entities they represent that can all enter into the same syntactic relations. The theory of types was advanced by Bertrand Russell to avoid the liar paradox, Russell's paradox, etc
philosophy a universal. If a sentence always has the same meaning whenever it is used, the meaning is said to be a property of the sentence-type Compare token
Christian theol a figure, episode, or symbolic factor resembling some future reality in such a way as to foreshadow or prefigure it
rare a distinctive sign or mark
to write (copy) on a typewriter
(tr) to be a symbol of; typify
(tr) to decide the type of; clarify into a type
(tr) med to determine the blood group of (a blood sample)
(tr) Christian theol to foreshadow or serve as a symbol of (some future reality)
type or form
archetype
printing type or photographic process
collotype
When preceded by a modifier, type meaning “kind, sort” is sometimes used without a following of: This type furnace uses very little current. In writing, a hyphen is often placed between type and the preceding word or words: a magnetic-type holder; a New England-type corn pudding. This construction is frequently criticized by usage guides; it is most typical of journalistic writing and advertising and occurs rarely in formal speech or writing. In almost all cases the construction can be rendered fully standard either by restoring of after type, with no hyphen ( this type of furnace; a New England type of corn pudding ) or by omitting type altogether ( a magnetic holder).
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English: “symbol, figure” (from Middle French ), from Latin typus “bas-relief, ground plan,” from Greek týpos “blow, impression”
A type is a specific category of things or people that have something in common. Your favorite type of candy might be dark chocolate, while your brother's favorite type is jelly beans. There are two basic sorts of types: first, a group of similar things — and in biology, specifically, "an organism with the essential characteristics of its group." The second type of type consists of letters, numbers, or symbols that are printed or shown on a computer screen, like the extra-large type in your grandpa's library book. As a verb, to type means to use a typewriter or keyboard to write.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Those mortgages often come with lower interest rates and require smaller down payments for the borrower than second homes or investment properties would, and seeking the wrong type of loan can be considered fraud.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026
"I don't think that maybe he's my type for Chicken Shop Date," she declares.
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026
Just one-third of people survive this type of tumour beyond 12 months while 4% survive for five years or more, Brain Tumour Research says.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
Clusters 3 and 5 were identified as having an especially high likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 28, 2026
“Now type in THA. That’s your message key.”
From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
We need a Graeme Souness -type manager who won't let players just turn up to get their huge salaries.
From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2025
Unlike for the bulk of his works which he installs guerrilla-style without asking, Invader sought and got the museum’s permission to cement the red-and-white Space Invader -type alien into place overlooking the city.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 4, 2024
The therapist version offers a confidential soundproof box — one that, ahhh, offers a partner in figuring out how to answer these, “Is it okay?” -type questions.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 28, 2022
Future research should also identify which types of exercise are most effective for particular patients.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 28, 2026
The Ukrainians have been defending against Iranian-made Shahed suicide drones, fending off the types of attacks the U.S. military and its allies now face in the Middle East with dwindling supplies of air-defense stocks.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
Few companies are saying they plan to go on major hiring sprees, and employers are also making clear they are in the market for certain types of workers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
Qualifying catches are also sent to the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, an international network which provides open access to data about all types of life.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
Her phone is already out, fingertips flying as she types.
From "I Can Make This Promise" by Christine Day
Whether the lawyers were laughing when they typed this is known only to them.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 10, 2026
There is the typed text of Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1963 speech, "I Have a Dream," and a jersey worn by Roberto Clemente, the first Latino to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
From Barron's ● May 29, 2026
The two women credit all the written and typed letters and what they shared through them for keeping them close.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 23, 2026
The court heard the accompanying paperwork had been typed using a typewriter on paper embossed with an antiques dealers' logo – and even a nine-pence stamp.
From BBC ● May 22, 2026
I hadn’t all the way decided that before I typed those words, but as soon as I see them on the screen, I know they’re true.
From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison
A pamphlet from the Central District of California that touted “front-page Federal cases” hung in the window of a court reporting classroom, where students practiced typing 200 words per minute.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2026
My partner wants to turn off the light and go to sleep, but I'm still frantically typing on my phone.
From BBC ● Jun. 27, 2026
If you’re not, you’ve got to use money, which is hard to get, whereas you get shares by typing zeros into a spreadsheet.
From Salon ● Jun. 22, 2026
Walking and typing is dangerous, but walking and talking like a maniac into my own recorder is merely antisocial.
From Slate ● May 24, 2026
But there she stood, typing away on the touchscreen keyboard, and she seemed as energetic as ever.
From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
