categorize

verb

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

transitive verb

: to put into a category : classify
Birds are categorized by type in this field manual.
categorization
ˌka-ti-gə-rə-ˈzā-shən How to pronounce categorize (audio)
noun
categorizable
ˌka-ti-gə-ˈrī-zə-bəl How to pronounce categorize (audio)
adjective

Synonyms of categorize

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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.
And, although Ormund has been described as the show’s new villain, Norton isn’t sure his character is so easy to categorize. — Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 31 July 2026 Clinical guidelines from the National Institutes of Health categorize alcohol withdrawal by the following key progression stages. — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2026 Today, there are over 30 varieties of guava grown in tropical climates throughout the world, mostly categorized into white or red guava types. — Su-Jit Lin, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 July 2026 A number of mid-20th-century musicians, such as Diddley, are sometimes categorized as blues and rock or R&B artists because their recordings bridged several styles. — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 July 2026 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

Rhymes for categorize

See All Rhymes for categorize

Browse Nearby Words

categorization
categorize
category
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Cite this Entry

“Categorize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/categorize. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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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
ˌkat-i-gə-rə-ˈzā-shən How to pronounce categorize (audio)
noun

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Nglish: Translation of categorize for Spanish Speakers

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