grouping: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral, formal
Quick answer
What does “grouping” mean?
A set of people or things arranged or classified together.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A set of people or things arranged or classified together.
The action or process of forming such a set; a cluster, arrangement, or configuration.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage. Spelling remains 'grouping'.
Connotations
Similar connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in both UK and US English.
Grammar
How to Use “grouping” in a Sentence
noun + of + noun (grouping of students)adjective + grouping (stable grouping)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “grouping” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The teacher is grouping the pupils by ability.
- We'll be grouping the data into three main categories.
American English
- The coach is grouping the players by position.
- They grouped the survey responses by age.
adjective
British English
- This is not a grouping exercise; it's individual work.
- The grouping mechanism is automated.
American English
- The grouping strategy needs revision.
- We used a grouping algorithm for the analysis.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The new organisational grouping aims to improve efficiency.
Academic
The demographic data was analysed by age grouping.
Everyday
We need a different seating grouping for the party.
Technical
In chemistry, a functional grouping determines a molecule's reactivity.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “grouping”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “grouping”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “grouping”
- Using as a verb ('I am grouping the papers' is correct; 'I am doing a grouping' for the action is less natural).
- Misspelling as 'grouping' or 'groping'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily, yes. The related verb is 'to group'. 'Grouping' is the noun form for the action or the resulting set.
'Group' is more general and stable. 'Grouping' often implies the act of forming a group or a temporary/functional arrangement (e.g., 'ability grouping' in a class).
Yes, it is commonly used for abstract classifications like 'ideological groupings', 'conceptual groupings', or 'statistical groupings'.
Yes, you can have 'one grouping', 'several groupings', or 'different groupings'.
A set of people or things arranged or classified together.
Grouping is usually neutral, formal in register.
Grouping: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡruːpɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡrupɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The usual suspects (informally implies a familiar grouping of people)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
GROUP-INg: think of putting IN a common GROUP.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTAINER (items are placed inside a conceptual container/category).
Practice
Quiz
Which term is most specific and formal as a synonym for 'grouping' in an academic context?