Classify
/ˈklæsɪfaɪ/
Definitions
To arrange or order (things) into categories or groups.
/ˈklæsɪfaɪ/
To categorize or arrange into groups
The teacher classified the students into three ability groups.
💡 Simply: Imagine sorting toys into boxes – that's classifying! You're putting similar things together.
👶 For kids: Putting things into groups that are the same.
More Examples
We need to classify these documents before we can file them.
How It's Used
"Scientists classify animals based on their characteristics."
"Librarians classify books according to the Dewey Decimal System."
From Middle French classifier, from Latin classis "class" + facere "to make".
The word 'classify' has been used in a similar sense since the 16th century, though its usage has expanded with the development of scientific fields.
Memory tip
Think of 'class' and 'if' - if it belongs to a class, you classify it.