English

Noun

classification ‎(plural classifications)

1. The act of forming into a class or classes; a distribution into groups, as classes, orders, families, etc., according to some common relations or attributes.
   • 1937-1952, Jorge Luis Borges, Other Inquisitions:

     On those remote pages it is written that animals are divided into (a) those that belong to the Emperor, (b) embalmed ones, (c) those that are trained, (d) suckling pigs, (e) mermaids, (f) fabulous ones, (g) stray dogs, (h) those that are included in this classification, (i) those that tremble as if they were mad, (j) innumerable ones, (k) those drawn with a verfy fine camel's hair brush, (l) others, (m) those that have just broken a flower vase, (n) those that resemble flies from a distance.

   • 1997: Chris Horrocks, Introducing Foucault, page 69 (Totem Books, Icon Books; ISBN 1840460865)

     I’m using mathesis — a universal science of measurement and order …
     And there is also taxinomia a principle of 'classification' and ordered tabulation.
     Knowledge replaced universal resemblance with finite differences. History was arrested and turned into tables …
     Western reason had entered the age of judgement.

Derived terms

• classification scheme

Related terms

• class
• classic
• classify
• category
• categorize
• segment

Translations

French

Etymology

classe +‎ -ification

Noun

classification f ‎(plural classifications)

1. classification