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.
Astrocytomas are the most common type of brain and spinal cord tumour in children and are also known as gliomas, according to Cancer Research UK, external.
From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026
It can also be used to improve blood sugar levels in patients with insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026
Skowronska-Krawczyk says uncertainty surrounding federal research funding has created concerns about future support for this type of work, but she remains confident that "we will prevail."
From Science Daily ● Aug. 23, 2026
I’m referring, of course, to conversations about the type of care I might need one day and how to pay for it, as well as information about my estate plans, financial advisers, investments and insurance.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 23, 2026
This house is too squat; I pictured Charles living in a ramshackle place a hundred years old, the type of location where knobs are always coming off bannisters in people’s hands.
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
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
It is unclear which types of stores will wind up bidding to operate the stores.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026
After the federal government put new limits on certain types of student-loan borrowing this summer, lending experts expect more students to turn to private loans to help cover tuition costs.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 24, 2026
Broad-spectrum antibiotics are designed to act against many different types of bacteria, which is why they can produce substantial changes in the gut microbial community.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 24, 2026
Eileen Anderson, a professor of bioethics at Case Western Reserve University and psychological anthropologist, says these types of experiences tap deep into the psyche.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026
I followed with leaves from the other types of trees.
From "Willodeen" by Katherine Applegate
The fact that a few characters typed and deleted in his mother’s kitchen became a document the school could act on.
From Slate ● Aug. 21, 2026
Oliver took odd jobs around town to supplement her income, including for Norman Mailer—according to the film, she typed “The Executioner’s Song,” his Pulitzer Prize-winning epic of 1979.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026
The BBC is not disclosing what the researchers typed into ChatGPT.
From BBC ● Jun. 17, 2026
Whether the lawyers were laughing when they typed this is known only to them.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 10, 2026
Too weak to move around, he balanced a typewriter on his stomach and typed reports on what he’d learned in Vietnam.
From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin
Harp has been a near-constant presence at Trump's side in his second term, sometimes typing out social media posts for him and printing out information, a role that has seen her dubbed the "human printer."
From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026
One of Trump's longest-serving and most loyal aides, 35-year-old Harp is trusted with typing out his Truth Social posts, among other top responsibilities.
From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026
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
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
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.
