classification English · revision 7218

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1767|origins=fr classification}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˌklæsɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is probably [[bor|fr|classification]], from [[m|fr|classe|t=class]] (see [[class]]) and -fication,^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002) or formed from the Latin stem of [[classify]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The action of arranging in classes: 1772 in Etymonline, 1790 in the OED;^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) MWU dates it to 1767.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The result of classifying, a systematic arrangement, is from 1789 in Etymonline and 1794 in the OED.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) In biology it is the arrangement of organisms in groups by their relationships,^(AHD)^(Collins 2023) and in government the grading of documents by secrecy is a later sense.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1767 – first use (MWU).^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1772 – the act of classifying.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1789 – the result of classifying.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The act or process of arranging things in [[class|alt=classes]] or groups.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A category or class into which something is put.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(biology)'' The systematic grouping of organisms; [[taxonomy]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The grading of official information by secrecy.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[classificatorily]]

+ * [[classificatory]]

+ * [[classificational]]

+ * [[misclassification]]

+ * [[nonclassification]]

+ * [[overclassification]]

+ * [[subclassification]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[class]]

+ * [[classic]]

+ * [[classify]]

+ * [[classified]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}