adjective
categorical
Relating to distinct classes or groupings.
The survey records eye color as a categorical variable.
Etymology
Greek katēgoria referred to what is asserted about something. Logic organized such predicates into categories, from which the broader idea of distinct classes or groupings developed.
More examples
- The chart compares several categorical groupings.
- Researchers separate numerical measurements from categorical data.
- The analysis tests relationships between categorical variables.
Similar words
- classified
- Describes something assigned to groups, not necessarily category-based data.
- discrete
- Can describe separate numerical values as well as distinct categories.