Classification
/ˌklæsɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/noun
The act or process of arranging people or things into groups according to shared characteristics.
Did you know?The Latin ancestor classis originally referred to a group of Roman citizens called up for military service, linking modern categorization to ancient civic and military hierarchy.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kelh₁-
“To call, summon, or shout; the reconstructed root behind several later words connected with calling.”
Ancient Latin
Latin
calāre
“To call out or summon publicly.”
Ancient Latin
Latin
classis
“A group summoned or called together, especially a Roman military levy or social division.”
17th Century
French
classification
“The act of arranging into classes or groups.”
18th Century
English
classification
“The systematic arrangement of things into classes.”
Modern English
English
classification
“The process of grouping items, organisms, information, or people according to shared characteristics.”