a class or group of things, people, etc, possessing some quality or qualities in common; a division in a system of classification
2. metaphysics
any one of the most basic classes into which objects and concepts can be analysed
3.
a.
(in the philosophy of Aristotle) any one of ten most fundamental modes of being, such as quantity, quality, and substance
b.
(in the philosophy of Kant) one of twelve concepts required by human beings to interpret the empirical world
c.
any set of objects, concepts, or expressions distinguished from others within some logical or linguistic theory by the intelligibility of a specific set of statements concerning them
See also category mistake
Word origin
C15: from Late Latin catēgoria, from Greek katēgoria, from kategorein to accuse, assert
Examples of 'categories' in a sentence
categories
In February The Way West was nominated for Academy Awards in several categories.
Gaskin, Catherine THE AMBASSADOR'S WOMEN
`Only a fool chooses his acquaintances on the basis of categories rather than individual character.
Kallen, Lucille C B GREENFIELD - A LITTLE MADNESS
There are few false notes in the most glamorous categories.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The company estimates that about 1,000 search categories are blocked by this filtering.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Cultural categories may be there to inform, but they're also absurd.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The same is true of entrepreneurs, who clearly come in different categories.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The editor has identified several categories of correspondents.
The Times Literary Supplement (2010)
I have divided the various transgressions into categories of misdemeanour.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Proposals jockeying for inclusion in the speech fall into three broad categories.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The spending has to fall into one of four categories.