Noun B1 — Intermediate /ˈkætəɡəri/

Category — Definition, Examples & Pronunciation

A class or group of things sharing common characteristics — one of the most useful nouns for organising and classifying in English.

Quick Definition

A category is a class or group of things that share common characteristics. Categories are used to organise, sort, or classify items, ideas, or people into distinct groups.

What Does Category Mean?

Category comes from the Latin categoria and Greek kategoria, originally meaning "predication" in Aristotle's logic. Over centuries the word broadened to mean any group or class defined by shared features. It entered English in the 16th century and is now widely used across everyday, academic, and professional English.

A category is more than just a label — it implies a system. When you put things into categories, you are claiming they share at least one important characteristic. Common uses include: product categories on a website, grammatical categories (noun, verb), award categories at ceremonies, and age categories in sport.

The key synonym is class, which is also formal. In casual speech, type or kind can replace category. The related verb categorise (British) / categorize (American) means to assign something to a category. The adjective categorical means absolute or definite — note that it does not simply mean "relating to categories" in everyday use.

Example Sentences

SentenceUsage note
The books are organised into three categories: fiction, non-fiction, and reference.everyday / organisational
Whales fall into the category of mammals, not fish.scientific classification
Please select a category before submitting your complaint.formal / administrative
The film won awards in several categories, including Best Screenplay.entertainment / awards
This type of fraud belongs to an entirely different category of crime.legal / formal register
Her poetry does not fit neatly into any single category.academic / critical writing
Athletes are grouped by age category to ensure fair competition.sports context
The survey divides respondents into four income categories.research / statistics

Word Forms

FormWordExample
Noun (singular)categoryThis item belongs to a separate category.
Noun (plural)categoriesThe menu is divided into five categories.
Verb (British)categoriseHow would you categorise this type of music?
Verb (American)categorizeScientists categorize species by shared traits.
AdjectivecategoricalShe gave a categorical denial of the charges.
AdverbcategoricallyHe categorically refused to comment.
Noun (act of sorting)categorisation / categorizationThe categorisation of data took several hours.

Collocations

CollocationExample phrase
fall into a categoryMost learners fall into one of three categories.
belong to a categoryDolphins belong to the category of marine mammals.
broad categoryPoetry is a broad category that includes many styles.
separate categoryThis is a completely separate category of problem.
distinct categoryThe two groups form distinct categories.
age categoryCompetitors are placed in an age category before the race.
product categorySales in the electronics product category rose by 12%.
award categoryShe was nominated in the Best Director award category.

Common Mistakes

Watch Out For

This movie is in a category of its own kind.

This movie is in a category of its own. (Do not add "kind" — "a category of its own" is the fixed phrase.)

She categorised the words into different categorys.

She categorised the words into different categories. (Irregular plural: -y changes to -ies.)

The teacher gave us a categorical list of topics to study.

The teacher gave us a comprehensive list of topics to study. (Categorical means absolute/unconditional, not simply "relating to categories".)

Synonyms

class group type classification kind section division set

Related Words

class type group section divide organise classify All Common Words →

Practise This Word

Flash Cards Complete the Sentence Cloze Dropdown

Frequently Asked Questions about “category”

What does category mean?
A category is a class or group of things that share common characteristics. It is used to organise, sort, or classify objects, ideas, or people into distinct groups. Example: 'Fiction and non-fiction are the two main categories of books in the library.'
Is category a noun?
Yes, category is a noun. Its plural is categories. The related adjective is categorical (absolute, definite), and the adverb is categorically. The verb form is categorise (British English) or categorize (American English), meaning to place something into a category.
What is the difference between category and type?
Both words refer to a group of similar things, but category is more formal and implies a system of classification, while type is more general and informal. 'This falls into the category of serious offences' sounds more official than 'this is a type of offence'. In casual speech, type is preferred; in academic or official writing, category is more common.
How do you use category in a sentence?
Category is typically used with 'in a/the category', 'fall into a category', 'belong to a category', or 'create a category'. Examples: 'The film falls into the category of romantic comedy.', 'Please select a category from the drop-down menu.', 'Her work does not fit neatly into any single category.'
What is the plural of category?
The plural of category is categories. The -y ending changes to -ies in the plural, following the standard English rule. Example: 'The website is organised into five categories: grammar, vocabulary, listening, reading, and writing.'
What does 'fall into a category' mean?
The phrase 'fall into a category' means to belong to or be classified as a particular group. It is one of the most common collocations with category in both spoken and written English. Example: 'Most English learners fall into one of three categories: beginners, intermediate, or advanced.'
What is the adjective form of category?
The adjective form is categorical, meaning absolute, unconditional, or without exception. Example: 'The manager gave a categorical refusal to the proposal.' The adverb is categorically: 'I categorically deny those allegations.' Note that categorical does not mean 'relating to categories' in everyday use — it means definite and unambiguous.
What is the difference between category and class?
Class and category are close synonyms in the sense of a group sharing characteristics. Class is often used in scientific, social, or grammatical contexts ('word class', 'social class', 'class of vertebrates'), while category is more versatile and widely used across everyday, academic, and business English. In logic and philosophy, category has a more technical meaning.
What is the origin of the word category?
Category comes from the Latin categoria, which itself derives from the Greek kategoria, meaning 'accusation' or 'predication'. The Greek philosopher Aristotle used the word to describe fundamental classes of predicates in logic. Over time, the word broadened to mean any system of classification. It entered English in the 16th century.
How can I practise using category in English?
LexFizz's Flash Cards include classification and organisation vocabulary such as category. The Complete the Sentence exercise gives you practice with category in academic and everyday contexts. You can also practise by sorting everyday objects — books, foods, sports — into categories and writing sentences describing each group.