category

noun

cat·​e·​go·​ry ˈka-tə-ˌgȯr-ē 

plural categories

1

: any of several fundamental and distinct classes to which entities or concepts belong

Taxpayers fall into one of several categories.

2

: a division within a system of classification

She competed for the award in her age category.

Synonyms of category

• type
• kind

Examples of category in a Sentence

The cars belong to the same category.

Taxpayers fall into one of several categories.

She competed for the award in her age category.

Recent Examples on the Web

If both voting bodies show up for her, Metcalf becomes a category of one. —Clayton Davis, Variety, 3 May 2026

The market for lower- and no-alcohol products grew by more than 7% in 10 key global markets in 2022, with beer making up much of this category (IWSR, 2022). —Justin Kissinger, Fortune, 2 May 2026

The award honors airports in commercial, general aviation and military categories. —Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 2 May 2026

Playing Elle Fanning’s pro-wrestler dad on Margo’s Got Money Troubles feels like a good avenue for his first nomination in a comedy category. —Joe Reid, Vulture, 2 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin categoria, from Greek katēgoria predication, category, from katēgorein to accuse, affirm, predicate, from kata- + agora public assembly, from ageirein to gather

First Known Use

1588, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for category

• allegory
• amatory
• auditory
• clerestory
• crematory
• desultory
• dilatory
• dormitory
• excretory
• extempore
• feudatory
• gustatory

Kids Definition

category

noun

cat·​e·​go·​ry ˈkat-ə-ˌgōr-ē 

-ˌgȯr-

plural categories

1

: one of the divisions or groupings used in a system of classification

"species" and "genus" are biological categories

2

: class entry 1 sense 3a, kind