category
gb/kˈætəɡˌɔɹi/ us/kˈætəɡˌɔɹi/
A2
English
~ 1500
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
Group with common features
A group of people or things that are the same in some way.
Usage pattern:
a category of [things/people]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'category' with 'catalogue'; 'category' means a type or group, not a list.
Synonyms
class (Often used interchangeably, but 'class' can also imply hierarchy or rank.)
|
type ('Type' is more informal and general in everyday speech.)
Antonyms
individual (Refers to a single person or thing rather than a group.)
Collocations
fall into a category
|broad category
|main category
|specific category
Themes
classification
|language
|organization
|core_vocabulary
|education
Examples
- Books in this library are arranged by category.
- In which category would you place this species?
- These expenses fall into a different category than last year.
- The competition has several age categories.
- This product doesn't fit neatly into any category.
Learner examples
- This store sells many categories of food.
- Cats and dogs are in different categories of animals.
- We put the photos into three categories.
- There is a sports category in the magazine.
- I like the comedy category of movies.
Grammar
Dictionary form
category
IPA
GB/kˈætəɡˌɔɹi/
US/kˈætəɡˌɔɹi/
Syllables & stress
cat - egory (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (cat)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: category
- Plural: categories
Word family
Forms
categories
noun
Core family
categorize
verb B2
Related words
Advanced or less common
categorically
adverb
Expressions
fall into a category
1/fˈɔl ˈɪntu ə kˈætəɡˌɔɹi/
fixed phrase
Belong to a specific group
To be part of a certain group because of similar features.
Examples
- These symptoms fall into the category of mild illness.
- His work falls into the category of modern art.
in a category of its own
1/ˈɪn ə kˈætəɡˌɔɹi əv ˈɪts ˈoʊn/
idiom
Completely unique or unmatched
So different or special that nothing else is like it.
Examples
- Her singing talent is in a category of its own.
- This restaurant is in a category of its own when it comes to service.