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.
I love being back in L.A., though it gets me down a little bit — not depressed but melancholy in an autumn-of-my-years type of way.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 2, 2026
He added: "As a young male actor, generally, the minute you're not playing a zany artist type, the minute you're in a suit, people fling it at you."
From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2026
This response depends on a specialized type of wood called tension wood.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 1, 2026
Helplessness melts into righteous rage as you type some scathing retort, as loneliness gives way to the metallic taste of parasocial satisfaction as the likes and reposts flood in.
From Slate ● Nov. 1, 2026
Grabbing my phone, I type “crossword puzzle publisher” into Google’s search bar.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
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
Humans have three types of cone cells, each most sensitive to different wavelengths of light.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 31, 2026
Across all types of U.S. corporate debt markets, AI-linked issuance totaled $394 billion in 2025 and $655 billion through mid-October of this year, according to Bank of America.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 31, 2026
In a standard search campaign, a business sets a budget and bids on specific keywords that trigger text ads to appear when a user types them into the search bar.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 31, 2026
"We still have big ambitions.... It may be different types of jobs or jobs in different areas and so forth," Sarin said.
From Barron's ● Oct. 30, 2026
“Isn’t the prize in these types of contests always money?”
From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
During the pandemic, I was so bored out of my mind that one night close to midnight I just typed “deaf women” in Google search.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026
Among the discoveries was a typed schedule detailing Queen Elizabeth II's plans to host a diplomatic reception in her Silver Jubilee year of 1977.
From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026
After that, I sat down at my desktop computer and typed an email to my editors to let them know what happened to me and that I was OK.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026
It must be 100% handwritten with no typed words, printed forms or help from another person.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 24, 2026
Poitras filmed interviews and Greenwald typed articles for the Guardian, a British newspaper.
From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin
The fact that I and countless other writers are typing out similar commentaries all but ensures it.
From Salon ● Oct. 14, 2026
"All the talking, tweeting, typing and streaming is done - I'm ready to fight," Benn said, while inexplicably wearing a bullet-proof style vest.
From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026
One client requires candidates to put their hands in the air while the interview prompt is being delivered to prove there’s no live typing going on.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 30, 2026
During pregnancy, my symptoms largely disappeared, my walking improved as did my dexterity in typing and writing.
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026
Still feeling frustrated because he hadn’t been able to take Ernestine to the speed typing contest, Dad insisted on taking Martha to an adding machine exhibition in New York.
From "Cheaper by the Dozen" by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey
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