Words / B2

KAT-uh-g-uh-ree/ˈkætəɡəri/

A category is a group of people or things that share features: put the words into the correct category, age categories. Group is everyday and looser; class and type are close. Categorise is the British verb; categorical (absolute, no doubt) is a different adjective — do not mix them. In speech, type or group is enough. A category is a labelled box, not a random pile.

Meaning

A group of people or things that share particular features.

Examples

• “Put the words into the correct category.”
• “The prize has two categories: fiction and non-fiction.”
• “Do not force every essay into the same category; some sit on the border.”

Good to know

A labelled group/type. Verb: categorise. Everyday: type / group. Contrast: categorical = absolute (different word).

Near in meaning

type

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