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Etymology and origin of the French word classification

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1752 Trévoux More words from the 18th century
Ultimate origin
Latin classis
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
French classification
English classification

Pronunciation

  • /kla.si.fi.ka.sjɔ̃/[1]
  • /klɑ.si.fi.ka.sjɔ̃/[1]

Forms

classification f (plural classifications)[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French classifier + -ation.[2][1][3][4] The verb is borrowed from a Latin type, classificare, composed of classis (“class”) and the ending of verbs in -fier.[2] The noun was in use before the verb: apart from an isolated Middle French clacyfier of the early 16th century, classifier is recorded in 1824, and Féraud noted in 1787 that no one yet said it.[2] The Grand Robert allows a formation on classe as well.[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

The GLLF and the Petit Robert date it to 1752, in the Trévoux dictionary, a date the TLFi gives after Bloch and Wartburg;[6][4][2][7] the TLFi's own first record is from the Année littéraire of 1780,[2] the date Rey gives,[3] and the Grand Robert gives 1763.[5]

Semantic evolution

It is the action of distributing beings, things or notions into classes, and the result of that action; it overlaps with classement but differs in the fields where it is used, close to the scientific term taxinomie.[3][2] Littré already listed its use in natural history, with natural and artificial classifications.[8] English classification (1772) is from the French word or formed on the Latin stem of classify.[9]

Timeline

  • 1752 – Recorded in the Trévoux dictionary.[6][4]
  • 1780 – Used in the Année littéraire.[2][3]
  • 1787 – Féraud remarks that no one yet says classifier.[2]
  • 1824 – The verb classifier is recorded.[2]

Meanings

Noun

  1. The systematic distribution of things, beings or notions into classes or categories; the result of this, a classification.[4][2][6]
  2. (biology) The arrangement of living species into hierarchical groups by their shared characters; taxonomy.[6][4][8]
  3. A system of classing.[6] Classification périodique des éléments: the periodic table.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  3. ^ a b c d Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b c d e f Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  6. ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  7. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  8. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  9. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Classification.” Etymologically, 14 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/classification. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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