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
During the fall semester of the same year, more than 19 percent of students in England were classified as persistently absent.
—
Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 25 Dec. 2025
Initially ruled a homicide due to a gunshot wound when the first set of human remains — a skull — was found back in 2024, police confirm to PEOPLE that an investigation is ongoing and the case has not been classified as a homicide at this time.
—David Chiu, PEOPLE, 25 Dec. 2025
Once it’s completed, cannabis will be classified under federal law as Schedule III, along with regulated pharmaceuticals like anabolic steroids and Tylenol with codeine.
—Hannah Parker, NBC news, 24 Dec. 2025
If the pencil fell out, the individual was more likely to be classified as white or of mixed race; if the pencil remained, they were categorized as Black.
—Hendra Jacobs, Allure, 23 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for classify
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Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 25 Dec. 2025
Initially ruled a homicide due to a gunshot wound when the first set of human remains — a skull — was found back in 2024, police confirm to PEOPLE that an investigation is ongoing and the case has not been classified as a homicide at this time.
—David Chiu, PEOPLE, 25 Dec. 2025
Once it’s completed, cannabis will be classified under federal law as Schedule III, along with regulated pharmaceuticals like anabolic steroids and Tylenol with codeine.
—Hannah Parker, NBC news, 24 Dec. 2025
If the pencil fell out, the individual was more likely to be classified as white or of mixed race; if the pencil remained, they were categorized as Black.
—Hendra Jacobs, Allure, 23 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for classify
Cite this Entry
“Classify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/classify. Accessed 31 Dec. 2025.
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
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