class
0 antonyms and opposites of class, grouped by meaning.
Noun — A group of people or things sharing common features; a category.
How to use class
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Latin classis, originally referring to a division of Roman citizens called up for military service, later generalised to mean "a group or category."
Full origin of class →Frequently asked questions
What does “class” mean?
The word “class” means a group of people or things sharing common features; a category. In plain terms, a category or grouping — of people, things, or students — and informally, a word for style or elegance.
How do you pronounce “class”?
“Class” is pronounced klahs (/klæs/ in IPA).
How do you use “class” in a sentence?
Here is “class” used in a sentence: “Mammals are a class of animals that feed their young milk.”
What is another word for “class”?
Words with a similar meaning to “class” include category, description, stripe, fashion, division and family.
What part of speech is “class”?
Depending on how it is used, “class” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “class” come from?
The word “class” comes from Latin. From Latin classis, originally referring to a division of Roman citizens called up for military service, later generalised to mean "a group or category.".
Is “class” a common word?
“Class” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “class” have?
“Class” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a group of people or things sharing common features; a category.
What is the difference between a class and a category?
The two are close synonyms for a group whose members share features. 'Category' is the more general word for any such grouping. 'Class' often suggests a more formal or scientific place within a classification system, as biologists rank a class above an order, but in everyday use they overlap freely.
What is the difference between a class and a group?
A 'group' is simply any collection of people or things gathered together, for any reason. A 'class' is a group whose members are placed together because they share defining features or belong to the same category. Every class is a group, but a random group is not necessarily a class.
What is an example of a class in this sense?
In biology, mammals form a class of animals defined by shared traits like fur and feeding young on milk. More loosely, you might speak of 'a class of problems' in mathematics or 'the professional classes' in society, in each case members grouped together because they share common characteristics.
Does 'class' always mean a school lesson?
No. 'Class' has several meanings. It can be a lesson or group of students, a level of quality or society, or, as here, a category of people or things sharing common features. In this sense, 'a class of insects' means a type or grouping, not a classroom.