dewey decimal system: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2formal, academic, library science
Quick answer
What does “dewey decimal system” mean?
A proprietary library classification system that organizes books numerically by subject.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A proprietary library classification system that organizes books numerically by subject.
A hierarchical system created by Melvil Dewey in 1876 that uses a three-digit base for broad subject classification, followed by decimals for more specific topics, and includes a notation for author姓氏. It is the most widely used library classification system in the world.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Usage is identical in professional contexts.
Connotations
In both varieties, it connotes traditional library science. In the UK, the Library of Congress Classification is also prominent in academic libraries, while Dewey remains standard in public and school libraries.
Frequency
Equally common in professional library discourse in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “dewey decimal system” in a Sentence
The [LIBRARY/COLLECTION] uses the Dewey Decimal System.The book is classified under [NUMBER] in the Dewey Decimal System.To find it, you need to know its Dewey Decimal System number.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “dewey decimal system” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- Dewey Decimal classification numbers
- the Dewey Decimal scheme
American English
- Dewey Decimal call numbers
- a Dewey Decimal category
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used metaphorically to describe an overly rigid or numerical organizational scheme.
Academic
Common in Library and Information Science, Education, and general academic writing about research methods.
Everyday
Used when discussing how to find books in a public or school library.
Technical
The precise term in library science for this specific hierarchical, decimal-based classification scheme.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “dewey decimal system”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “dewey decimal system”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “dewey decimal system”
- Misspelling as 'Dewy Decimal System' (confusing with morning dew).
- Using lower case ('dewey decimal system').
- Referring to it for non-book materials where other systems (like the Universal Decimal Classification) are used.
- Thinking it is a universal, non-proprietary standard (it is owned by OCLC).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is used in over 135 countries and has been translated into more than 30 languages, making it the world's most widely used library classification system.
The first three digits represent a main class (e.g., 500 for natural sciences) and a division (e.g., 590 for zoological sciences). Subsequent digits after the decimal point provide increasingly specific subdivision.
The main alternative, especially in large academic and research libraries, is the Library of Congress Classification (LCC), which uses a combination of letters and numbers.
Standard practice is to shelve fiction alphabetically by author's surname, not by Dewey number. However, literature about fiction (e.g., literary criticism) is classified in the 800s.
A proprietary library classification system that organizes books numerically by subject.
Dewey decimal system is usually formal, academic, library science in register.
Dewey decimal system: in British English it is pronounced /ˈdjuːi ˈdesɪməl ˈsɪstəm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈduːi ˈdesɪməl ˈsɪstəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Dewey Decimals Do Cataloguing: Think of Melvil Dewey arranging books with decimal points, like a librarian using mathematical precision to bring order to knowledge.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE IS A MAP (the system provides a structured map to navigate the landscape of books); ORGANIZATION IS HIERARCHY (the decimal structure creates a parent-child relationship between subjects).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary purpose of the Dewey Decimal System?