# classify

Pronunciation: US say "KLAS-uh-fy" /ˈklæs.əˌfaɪ/; UK say "KLAS-i-fy" /ˈklæs.ɪ.faɪ/

## Verb

1. To sort people or things into classes or categories according to shared qualities.
   - Simple: To put people or things into groups based on what they share.
   - _Biologists classify organisms according to shared physical and genetic traits._
   - _The survey classifies respondents by age and income bracket._
2. To officially declare information secret, especially a government secret, restricting who may access it.
   - Simple: To officially mark information as secret so only certain people may see it.
   - _The agency chose to classify the satellite images as top secret._
   - _Authorities classified thousands of pages relating to the operation._
3. To make someone or something appear more stylish, refined, or elegant.
   - Simple: To make something look or feel more stylish and elegant.
   - _A tailored jacket can classify even the most casual look._
   - _He classified the small gathering with live jazz and candlelight._

## Origin

This word comes from French "classifier." By surface analysis, it is made from "class" plus the suffix "-ify."

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/classify (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).