classification

/ˈklæsəfəˌkeɪʃən/

/klæsɪfɪˈkeɪʃɪn/

Other forms: classifications

Classification is the process of putting something into a category. Classification of all your clothes by color may make it easier for you to put together an outfit, especially if you favor a monochrome look.

Classification involves putting things into a class or group according to particular characteristics so it’s easier to make sense of them, whether you’re organizing your shoes, your stock portfolio, or a group of invertebrates. If you’re an international spy, you might know that classification also can mean a government’s system for keeping secrets. If you have a high level of security classification, then you know really top secret stuff.

Definitions of classification

1. noun

   the basic cognitive process of arranging into classes or categories
   synonyms: categorisation, categorization, sorting

   types:

   coordination

   being of coordinate importance, rank, or degree

   appraisal, assessment

   the classification of someone or something with respect to its worth

   ascription, attribution

   assigning to a cause or source

   ascription, attribution

   assigning some quality or character to a person or thing

   cross-classification, cross-division

   classification according to more than one attribute at the same time

   subsumption

   incorporating something under a more general category

   critical analysis, critical appraisal

   an appraisal based on careful analytical evaluation

   zoomorphism

   the attribution of animal forms or qualities to a god

   animatism

   the attribution of consciousness and personality to natural phenomena such as thunderstorms and earthquakes and to objects such as plants and stones

   imputation

   the attribution to a source or cause

   externalisation, externalization

   attributing to outside causes

   evaluation, rating, valuation

   an appraisal of the value of something

   assay, check

   an appraisal of the state of affairs

   acid test

   a rigorous or crucial appraisal

   reappraisal, reassessment, revaluation, review

   a new appraisal or evaluation

   underevaluation

   an appraisal that underestimates the value of something

   type of:

   basic cognitive process

   cognitive processes involved in obtaining and storing knowledge
2. noun

   the act of distributing things into classes or categories of the same type
   synonyms: assortment, categorisation, categorization, compartmentalisation, compartmentalization

   types:

   indexing

   the act of classifying and providing an index in order to make items easier to retrieve

   reclassification

   classifying something again (usually in a new category)

   relegation

   the act of assigning (someone or something) to a particular class or category

   stratification

   the act or process or arranging persons into classes or social strata

   taxonomy

   practice of classifying plants and animals according to their presumed natural relationships

   typology

   classification according to general type

   type of:

   grouping

   the activity of putting things together in groups
3. noun

   a group of people or things arranged by class or category
   synonyms: categorisation, categorization

   types:

   dichotomy, duality

   being twofold; a classification into two opposed parts or subclasses

   trichotomy

   being threefold; a classification into three parts or subclasses

   type of:

   arrangement

   an orderly grouping (of things or persons) considered as a unit; the result of arranging
4. noun

   restriction imposed by the government on documents or weapons that are available only to certain authorized people
   antonyms:

   declassification

   reduction or removal by the government of restrictions on a classified document or weapon

   type of:

   confinement, restriction

   the act of keeping something within specified bounds (by force if necessary)