categorise
gb/kˈætɡɚˌaɪz/ us/kˈætɡɚˌaɪz/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
Verb
formal
B2
action
1
classify into groups
To put things into groups with the same type.
Usage pattern:
categorise [things/people] (by/according to [feature])
Common mistake:
In American English the usual spelling is categorize.
Synonyms
classify (Often used for more systematic or official grouping.)
|
group (More general and less formal than categorise.)
|
sort (Emphasises physically or practically arranging things.)
Antonyms
mix up (Not keeping items in separate groups.)
|
confuse (Failing to distinguish between different types.)
Collocations
categorise data
|categorise items
|categorise results
|categorise information
|categorise products
|categorise species
|categorise customers
|categorise responses
|categorise evidence
|categorise risks
Themes
education
|work
|analysis
Examples
- The researchers categorised the interviews by age and income.
- We need to categorise these complaints so we can see the main patterns.
- The library categorises books by subject and author.
Learner examples
- Please categorise these photos by date.
- The teacher categorised the words into groups.
Verb
formal
B2
action
2
label as a type
To say something is a particular kind of thing.
Usage pattern:
categorise [someone/something] as [type]
Common mistake:
Don’t use *categorise to*; the common pattern is categorise [X] as [Y].
Synonyms
label (Often implies a name or tag rather than analysis.)
|
class (More common in the pattern 'class X as Y'.)
|
regard (Focuses on opinion or viewpoint rather than grouping.)
Antonyms
differentiate (Focuses on noticing differences rather than placing into the same group.)
|
reclassify (Changes an existing category assignment.)
Collocations
categorise as illegal
|categorise as essential
|categorise as a success
|categorise as a failure
|categorise as dangerous
|categorise as art
|categorise as a disability
|categorise as a crime
|categorise as high risk
|categorise as confidential
Themes
communication
|society
Examples
- Some people categorise coffee as a drug, while others see it as harmless.
- The incident was categorised as a minor offence.
- She doesn’t want to be categorised as a ‘difficult’ employee.
Learner examples
- They categorised the book as fiction.
Verb
business
C1
process
3
assign a category in a system
To put something into the right folder or type in a system.
Usage pattern:
categorise [record/transaction/content] (under [heading])
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse 'category' as a noun: prefer 'categorise the expense as travel'.
Synonyms
tag (More common in apps/web contexts; often multiple tags.)
|
file (Emphasises putting something in the correct place for storage.)
|
code (Often used in finance/admin for assigning a code or classification.)
Antonyms
misfile (Putting something into the wrong category or place.)
|
lose (Failing to keep track of items in the system.)
Collocations
categorise expenses
|categorise transactions
|categorise spending
|categorise content
|categorise posts
|categorise documents
|categorise records
|categorise emails
|categorise inventory
|categorise leads
Themes
business
|technology
|data
Examples
- Please categorise each expense before you submit your claim.
- The software automatically categorises incoming messages as ‘Priority’ or ‘Other’.
- We categorised the new products under ‘Home office’ on the website.
Learner examples
- I categorised the payment as rent.
Verb
C1
action
4
pigeonhole or stereotype
To put someone in a box in an unfair way.
Usage pattern:
categorise [someone/something] as [type] (too easily)
Common mistake:
This sense often carries criticism; for neutral grouping use classify.
Synonyms
pigeonhole (Strongly suggests an unfair, limiting label.)
|
stereotype (Focuses on a fixed general belief about a group.)
Antonyms
individualise (Treating someone as a unique person rather than a type.)
|
understand (Making an effort to see complexity rather than simplifying.)
Collocations
easily categorise
|quickly categorise
|unfairly categorise
|categorise people
|categorise women
|categorise men
|categorise voters
|categorise someone as lazy
|categorise someone as a troublemaker
|refuse to be categorised
Themes
society
|emotions
|communication
Examples
- It’s easy to categorise him as arrogant, but he’s actually very shy.
- She hates being categorised as ‘just’ a pop singer.
- The film resists being categorised as either comedy or drama.
Learner examples
- Don’t categorise people too quickly.
Grammar
Dictionary form
categorise
IPA
GB/kˈætɡɚˌaɪz/
US/kˈætɡɚˌaɪz/
Syllables & stress
cat - egor - ise (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (cat)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: categorise
- 3rd Person Singular: categorises
- Present Participle: categorising
- Past: categorised
Word family
Forms
categorises
verb
categorising
verb
categorised
verb
Core family
category
noun A2
categorisation
noun C1
Related words
categorize
verb B2
Negative and opposite forms
uncategorised
adjective
Advanced or less common
categorical
adjective
categorically
adverb
Expressions
categorise [someone/something] as [something]
1/kˈætɡɚˌaɪz sˈoʊmˈoʊnsəmˈɛθɪŋ ˈæz sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
formal
say it belongs to a type
To say something is a certain kind of thing.
Examples
- The report categorised the incident as an accident.
- He was categorised as high risk by the insurer.
- Many people categorise chess as a sport.
categorise [something] under [heading]
1/kˈætɡɚˌaɪz sˈʌmθɪŋ ˈʌndɚ hˈɛdɪŋ/
fixed phrase
business
file under a heading
To put something in a section with a title.
Examples
- All travel costs should be categorised under ‘Expenses’.
- The website categorises these tools under ‘Productivity’.
- The editor categorised the article under ‘Opinion’.
categorise [things] into [groups]
1/kˈætɡɚˌaɪz θˈɪŋz ˈɪntu ɡɹˈups/
fixed phrase
formal
divide into categories
To put things into different groups.
Examples
- The study categorised participants into four age groups.
- We categorised the feedback into themes.
- The app categorises photos into albums automatically.