# categorize

/ˈkætəɡɝˌaɪz/ (US) · CEFR B2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/categorize
Updated: 2026-05-19

## Definition

to put things into groups based on what they have in common. You use this when you want to organize information or objects into specific types.

For teachers: to classify or arrange into groups according to shared characteristics or attributes. Often used in academic or administrative contexts to describe the systematic sorting of data.

## Examples

- The computer can categorize your emails automatically.
- The librarian spent the afternoon categorizing the new books so they would be easy to find.
- By categorizing the data into distinct demographic segments, the researchers were able to identify specific trends that had previously been obscured by the sheer volume of raw information.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.