stratified

adjective

strat·​i·​fied ˈstra-tə-ˌfīd How to pronounce stratified (audio)
1
: formed, deposited, or arranged in stable layers or strata
Such forced ascent of stable air leads to the formation of a stratified cloud layer that is large horizontally compared to its thickness.Frederick K. Lutgens et al.
The epidermis is a stratified squamous epithelium forming the barrier that excludes harmful microbes and retains body fluids.Terry Lechler et al.
2
: divided into social classes
Through farming and fishing, they supported a dense population and highly stratified society that constructed irrigation canals, pyramids, palaces, and temples.Christopher B. Donnan

Examples of stratified in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Disco music was notable for its stratified textures, anchored in the four-on-the-floor beat, which has the tendency to put the bass drum on every quarter note. Angelica Frey, JSTOR Daily, 23 Feb. 2025 However, stratified analyses indicated that marital status impacted dementia risk consistently, regardless of a person’s education, depression level, or genetic risk factors (e.g., APOE-e4 status). Ximena Araya-Fischel, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025 The amateur-baseball industry is a stratified mess. Lindsey Adler, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2025 Meanwhile, the Arctic Ocean, once a warm and stratified basin, saw its surface waters cool significantly, eventually allowing sea ice to form. Scott Travers, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stratified

Word History

First Known Use

1776, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of stratified was in 1776

Cite this Entry

“Stratified.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stratified. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.

Medical Definition

stratified

adjective
strat·​i·​fied ˈstrat-ə-ˌfīd How to pronounce stratified (audio)
: arranged in layers
especially : of, relating to, or being an epithelium consisting of more than one layer of cells
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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