categorize

verb

cat·​e·​go·​rize ˈka-ti-gə-ˌrīz How to pronounce categorize (audio)
categorized; categorizing

transitive verb

: to put into a category : classify
Birds are categorized by type in this field manual.
categorization noun
categorizable adjective

Examples of categorize in a Sentence

This software lets you categorize your photographs in many different ways. Their opinions can be categorized as conservative. Birds are categorized by type in this field guide.
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.
The team categorized people into four groups: Inactive (no weekly exercise), insufficiently active (less than 150 minutes per week), weekend warriors (150-plus minutes per week, in one to two sessions) and regularly active (15-plus minutes spread across three or more sessions). New Atlas, 25 July 2025 The participants then filled out a questionnaire, which enabled the scientists to categorize each person as a pessimist or optimist. Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 July 2025 Lynch would categorize sounds, applying unusual names that spoke to him about the feeling of a section of the show or movie. Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 11 July 2025 Trump has also frequented his own resort properties, notably Mar-a-Lago and Bedminster, for personal retreats or closed-press political dinners, but these have generally not been categorized as public events. MSNBC Newsweek, 13 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for categorize

Word History

Etymology

see category

First Known Use

1705, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of categorize was in 1705

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Categorize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/categorize. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

categorize

verb
cat·​e·​go·​rize ˈkat-i-gə-ˌrīz How to pronounce categorize (audio)
categorized; categorizing
: to put into a category : classify
categorization noun

More from Merriam-Webster on categorize

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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