classify

verb

clas·​si·​fy ˈkla-sə-ˌfī 

classified; classifying

transitive verb

1

: to arrange in classes (see class entry 1 sense 3)

classifying books according to subject matter

2

: to consider (someone or something) as belonging to a particular group

The movie is classified as a comedy.

The vehicle is classified as a truck.

classifiable

ˌkla-sə-ˈfī-ə-bəl 

adjective

Synonyms of classify

• rank
• distinguish
• categorize
• relegate
• group
• distribute
• type
• grade
• identify
• sort
• separate

Examples of classify in a Sentence

Students will be learning about the ways scientists classify animals.

The online system can classify books by subject.

Recent Examples on the Web

Treasurer Erick Russell has also pushed changes designed to prevent active bank accounts from being wrongly classified as abandoned. — Mark Lewyn, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026

The Jackson County Medical Examiner’s Office reviewed the man’s death and classified it as a homicide, Becchina said. — Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 2 Oct. 2026

Police said the vandalism was classified as a property crime rather than a hate offense, and the teen was released to his parents. — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Sumatran tigers, native to Indonesia, are classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as critically endangered. — Yi-Jin Yu, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

probably in part a back-formation from classification, in part from class entry 1 + -ify

First Known Use

1776, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for classify

• abscissae
• adonai
• alibi
• alkali
• alumni
• amoebae
• amplify
• annuli
• beautify
• brachii
• butterfly
• calculi

Kids Definition

classify

verb

clas·​si·​fy ˈklas-ə-ˌfī 

classified; classifying

: to arrange in or assign to classes

classify books by subjects

classifiable

-ˌfī-ə-bəl 

adjective

classifier

-ˌfī(-ə)r

noun

Medical Definition

classify

transitive verb

clas·​si·​fy ˈklas-ə-ˌfī 

classified; classifying

: to arrange in classes that have systematic relations usually founded on common properties

how would you classify these animals