classification

/ˌklæsɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌklæsɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌkla-sə-fə-ˈkā-shən/ (ame, mw)

classification — noun

  • classificationsingular
  • classificationsplural

1. the activity of putting items, people, or ideas into groups based on shared feat

1.名詞C2
釋義

the activity of putting items, people, or ideas into groups based on shared features or types that they have in common

例句

The biologist's careful classification of the new insect species took several months of analysis.

classification + of + noun phrase

For her dissertation, Priya studied the classification methods used in ancient Chinese medicine.

classification as a subject of study

同義詞
  • categorisation

    very similar; categorisation often suggests sorting into named categories, while classification can imply a broader or more scientific system

  • sorting

    more general and concrete; sorting is what you do with physical items or basic data, less formal

  • grouping

    emphasises the act of putting things together by shared traits; less technical than classification

  • organisation

    broader; can cover any arrangement, not only by type

反義詞
  • mixing

    combining items without sorting them by type

文法句型

classification + of + noun phrase

用法筆記

This uncountable sense refers to the action or system of classifying. It is often followed by of + noun phrase describing what is being sorted, or paired with system, method, or process.

常見錯誤

❌The classification of these documents are tricky.
✅The classification of these documents is tricky.
💡classification is uncountable and takes a singular verb.
❌We need a classification for these files.' (when meaning a specific group)
✅We need to classify these files.
💡sense 1 is the process, not the resulting category.

2. a particular group or class into which someone or something is placed when items

2.名詞C2
釋義

a particular group or class into which someone or something is placed when items are sorted by shared features or type

例句

This plant belongs to a classification known as tropical flowering evergreens.

belong to a classification

The report placed the country's economy under a new classification last year.

under a classification

同義詞
  • category

    more common in everyday language; classification sounds more formal or technical

  • class

    overlapping; class is often used in social or biological contexts

  • type

    more general and less formal; type does not imply a formal sorting system

文法句型

classification + for + noun phrase

under a classification

belong to a classification

用法筆記

Countable — you can have one classification or several classifications. Frequently used with verbs like belong to, fall into, or place under. The specific classification is often named by an adjective or a noun modifier (e.g. visa classification, job classification).

常見錯誤

❌This document is classification confidential.
✅This document has a confidential classification.
💡classification is a noun, not an adjective; use it with a determiner.