ˌ ̷ ̷səfə̇ˈkāshən, rap. -sf- noun
( -s )
Etymology: probably from French, from classe class + -i- + -fication
1. : the act or a method of classifying : the act or a method of distributing into groups, classes, or families : an assigning to a proper classsorting: as
a. : the systematic arrangement or method of arrangement of animals and plants in groups or categories according to a definite plan or in a definite sequence either as in earlier practice by assuming static morphological relationships among the various groups and so producing typically broadly inclusive categories or as in modern practice by recognizing the dynamic evolutionary quality of biologic relationship and with the aid of physiology, ecology, and cytogenetics in analying underlying relations producing an ever-increasing subdivision of categories into groups expressive of natural relationships : taxonomy — compare class , division , family , genus , order , phylum , species ; lumper , splitter
b. : a system for the arrangement of books or other library material according to subject or form — see decimal classification , expansive classification , library of congress classification , universal decimal classification
c. : the classifying of ships by a classification society
d. : the arrangement of positions in public service or in an occupational catalog into classes on the basis of duties and qualification requirements
e. : a systematic assignment of prisoners in a penal institution to a program of prison treatment appropriate to their individual needs after study and examination by a staff of specialists — compare individualization
f. : the classifying of especially documentary information into groupings (in the United States usually designated top secret, secret, and confidential) according to the stringency of the measures to be taken to prevent its falling into the hands of an enemy or potential enemy
g. : the grouping of articles of freight or express into classes for rate-making purposes
2. : the result of classifying : a system of classes or groups or a systematic division of a series of related phenomena ; also : one of such classes : category , rating
3. : a publication containing for the purpose of tariff assessment a list of articles, the classes to which they are assigned, and the rules and regulations governing the application of class rates