classification - Dictionary Definition : Vocabulary.com

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.

PRIMARY MEANINGS OF: classification

1	n	the basic cognitive process of arranging into classes or categories
2	n	restriction imposed by the government on documents or weapons that are available only to certain authorized people

FULL DEFINITIONS OF: classification

1

n the basic cognitive process of arranging into classes or categories

Synonyms:: categorisation, categorization, sorting

Types:: show 16 types...; hide 16 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

n the act of distributing things into classes or categories of the same type

Synonyms:: assortment, categorisation, categorization, compartmentalisation, compartmentalization

Types:: show 6 types...; hide 6 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

n 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

2

n 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)