category
High Frequency (C1)Neutral to Formal. Commonly used in academic, professional, and administrative contexts, but also perfectly acceptable in everyday conversation.
Definition
Meaning
A class or division of things or people having shared characteristics.
In mathematics, a collection of objects and the morphisms between them; in philosophy, a fundamental concept of classification; in everyday usage, a general group for sorting things.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a system of classification. Often used with ordinal numbers (e.g., first category) or evaluative adjectives (e.g., high-risk category). The word focuses on the grouping itself, not the process of categorizing.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant semantic or usage differences. Pronunciation differs slightly (see IPA). Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Identical. Neutral term for classification in both dialects.
Frequency
Equally common and essential in both British and American English across all registers.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Noun] in the [Adj] category[Noun] falls into the [Noun] categorycategorise [Noun] as [Noun/Adj]a category of [Noun]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “In a category of its/one's own (meaning unique or superior).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used for market segmentation, product lines, and budget classifications (e.g., 'Our premium category saw 15% growth.').
Academic
Central to taxonomy, logic, and analysis across disciplines (e.g., 'The data was analysed across five thematic categories.').
Everyday
Used for general sorting (e.g., 'Which category should I file this receipt under?').
Technical
Specific meaning in mathematics (category theory) and library/ information science.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- We need to categorise these expenses properly for the tax return.
- The system automatically categorises incoming emails.
American English
- We need to categorize these expenses properly for the tax return.
- The software categorizes transactions as personal or business.
adverb
British English
- She categorically stated she would not be attending the meeting.
- The results were categorically different from our predictions.
American English
- The CEO categorically denied the rumours of a merger.
- The two theories are categorically opposed.
adjective
British English
- The categorical imperative is a key philosophical concept.
- She made a categorical denial of the allegations.
American English
- The categorical imperative is a key philosophical concept.
- He gave a categorical refusal to the proposal.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Animals are in a different category from plants.
- Put the book in the fiction category.
- The competition has three age categories.
- Which product category is the most popular?
- The film didn't fit neatly into any single genre category.
- Participants were divided into categories based on their initial test scores.
- His latest work arguably constitutes a new category of performance art.
- The philosopher sought to deconstruct the traditional categories of thought.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CAT EATING a GORY (bloody) steak. The vet puts the cat in the 'carnivore' CAT-EGORY. The bizarre image links the sound to the meaning 'group'.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTAINER (things are IN a category), HIERARCHY (categories are above sub-categories), and FILE FOLDER (organising information).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid overusing 'category' as a direct translation for 'категория' in overly philosophical or Kantian contexts where 'concept' or 'notion' might be better.
- Do not confuse with 'criteria' (критерии). A category is a group; a criterion is a standard for judgment.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrectly using 'category' as a verb (the verb is 'categorise').
- Misspelling as 'catagory' (very common).
- Using 'category' interchangeably with 'level' or 'tier' (which imply rank, not just classification).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST appropriate use of 'category'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Category' is the most formal and implies a systematic classification. 'Type' and 'kind' are more informal and general, often used interchangeably in everyday speech. 'Category' often exists within a defined structure (like a list or form), while 'type/kind' can be more descriptive.
Both are correct. 'Categorize' is the standard American spelling. 'Categorise' is the standard British spelling. The same rule applies to 'categorization/categorisation'.
No. The noun is 'category'. The verb form is 'categorise' (UK) / 'categorize' (US). A common mistake is saying 'I will category these items' instead of 'I will categorise these items'.
It is an idiom meaning that something is so unique, exceptional, or different that it cannot be compared to others in its supposed group. It stands alone. For example: 'This artist's style is in a category of its own.'