Definition

1. Noun:
   • A class or group of things having some property or attribute in common and differentiated from others by kind, type, or quality.
   • A general concept used in philosophy, logic, and other disciplines to mark fundamental divisions or coordinations in a conceptual scheme.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Books in the library are organized by category, such as fiction, history, and science.
  • Aristotle's philosophy introduced the concept of ten fundamental categories of being.
  • Each product on the website belongs to a specific category for easier searching.

Advanced Usage

• "to fall into a category": to belong to or be classified as part of a particular group.
  • Most of his early works fall into the category of romantic poetry.
• "broad/narrow category": describing the scope or inclusiveness of a class.
  • "Vehicle" is a broad category that includes cars, trucks, and bicycles.

Variants and Related Words

• Categorize (verb): to place in a particular category; classify.
  • The software can automatically categorize incoming emails.
• Categorical (adjective): absolute; unqualified; relating to a category.
  • She gave a categorical denial to the accusation.
• Categorization (noun): the action or process of categorizing something.
  • The categorization of species is a complex task in biology.

Synonyms

• Class: a set or group sharing a common attribute.
• Type: a category of people or things having common characteristics.
• Group: a number of things that are located, gathered, or classed together.
• Classification: the systematic arrangement of things into categories.

Related Phrases

• "in a category of its own": so unique or different that it cannot be compared to others in a standard group.
  • Her artistic talent puts her in a category of her own.

Idioms

• "A whole other category": something entirely different and not comparable.
  • Comparing their performances is difficult; the veteran actor is in a whole other category.

Noun

1. a general concept that marks divisions or coordinations in a conceptual scheme
2. a collection of things sharing a common attribute
   • there are two classes of detergents