classify
verb
clas·si·fy
ˈkla-sə-ˌfī 
classified; classifying
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.
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
Devine told me that e-bike and moped marketing is confusing and regulations keeping e-bikes safely classified are cloudy.
—
Doug Turnbull,
AJC.com,
5 July 2026
Under California’s vehicle code, hit-and-run collisions that lead to property damage but no injuries are classified as misdemeanors.
—
Corey Schmidt,
Sacbee.com,
4 July 2026
Throughout his decades-long music career, Michael Jackson recorded songs that can be classified under many different genre names.
—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
4 July 2026
But experts cautioned against reading too much into year-over-year numbers that can fluctuate based on many factors — including how authorities classify and count certain offenses.
—
Jazmin Alvarado,
Los Angeles Times,
3 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for classify
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Doug Turnbull,
AJC.com,
5 July 2026
Under California’s vehicle code, hit-and-run collisions that lead to property damage but no injuries are classified as misdemeanors.
—
Corey Schmidt,
Sacbee.com,
4 July 2026
Throughout his decades-long music career, Michael Jackson recorded songs that can be classified under many different genre names.
—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
4 July 2026
But experts cautioned against reading too much into year-over-year numbers that can fluctuate based on many factors — including how authorities classify and count certain offenses.
—
Jazmin Alvarado,
Los Angeles Times,
3 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for classify
Cite this Entry
“Classify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/classify. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
classify
verb
clas·si·fy
ˈklas-ə-ˌfī
classified; classifying
: to arrange in or assign to classes
classify books by subjects
classifier
noun
-ˌfī(-ə)r
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
