classify
/ˈklæs.ɪ.faɪ/
"classify" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“classify” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #17,319 in English word frequency and used as a verb.
- #17,319
- frequency rank, English
- 8
- letters
- 11
- tracked misspellings
- 4
- confusable pairs
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - to identify by or divide into classes; to categorize
Visual similarity to commonly confused words
How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).
Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | classify |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Verb |
| IPA | /ˈklæs.ɪ.faɪ/ |
| Letters | 8 |
| Frequency rank | #17,319 |
| Misspellings tracked | 11 |
| Confusable pairs | 4 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “classify” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for classify is 8 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈklæs.ɪ.faɪ/. Corpus data places it at rank #17,319 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.
Our generated misspelling index lists 11 likely wrong-spelling variants for classify, with forms such as "calssify", "cclassify", and "clasify". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 4 confusable-pair relationships, "classy", "classic", "clarify", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.
Etymologically, the entry records: From French classifier. By surface analysis, class + -ify. The correct English form is classify, spelled C-L-A-S-S-I-F-Y.
Definition
- 1to identify by or divide into classes; to categorize
- 2to declare something a secret, especially a government secret
- 3To make classy
Etymology
From French classifier. By surface analysis, class + -ify.
Synonyms
Antonyms
This word in other languages
Common misspellings
Also misspelled as: calssify,cclassify,clasify,clasisfy,classfiy,classiffy,classifyy,classiyf,cllassify,clsasify,lcassify
Misspelling Pattern Breakdown
How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of classify - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you spell "classify"?
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Using “classify”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is C-L-A-S-S-I-F-Y - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /ˈklæs.ɪ.faɪ/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
- Don't mix it up with “classy” - see the side-by-side comparison. classify vs classy
- Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source
Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.