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New Word #116: Classified
classification
- classified: This word originally means “arranged in classes or categories”. Then I saw it at the back page of newspapers allocated for small advertisements. That section is usually called “classified.” However classified information takes on a new meaning. According to wikipedia, classified information is material that a government body deems to be sensitive information that must be protected. Access is restricted and mishandling of the material can incur criminal penalties.
- declassified: officially declare (information or documents) to be no longer secret.
- middle class: I have been a little mystified by this phrase since it stands alone, rather than standing in between two classes, as its name seems to suggest. There are no high class or low class, and no rich class or poor class in English, but I heard of the phrases like lower middle class and upper middle class.
typology: the study and classification of types of people, religions and symbols. This word is not to be confused with topology, which is the mathematical study of geometric properties and spatial relations
taxonomy: It’s a biology term, meaning the branch of science concerned with classification, especially of organisms.
categorization: the action or process of placing into classes or groups.
nomenclature: the devising or choosing of names for things, especially in a science or other discipline.
ranking: a position in a scale of achievement or status. Usually the word ranking is used when one wants to know the best high school in New Jersey for example.
rating: a classification or ranking of someone or something based on a comparative assessment of their quality, standard, or performance. Usually the word rating is used when a person or a company’s financial status is evaluated, such as credit rating.
stratification: the arrangement or classification of something into different groups. I’ve never seen this word being used.
seniority: the fact or state of being older or higher in position or status than someone else. This word is often used in an organization–when one is a new hire, one doesn’t have the seniority as other members.
pecking order: a hierarchy of status seen among members of a group of people or animals, originally as observed among hens.
prioritize: designate or treat (something) as more important than other things. This word is often used when one has a lot to do and one wants to organize which task gets to be done first.
Haoyan Do 
We use confidential here rather than classified 😊
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I see. I guess these are synonyms, but I often get confused… English has its own way of dealing with synonyms–very often one can be used in one circumstance and another can be used in another specific circumstance. LOL.
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This is a very interesting post, as usual 🌺❣️🌺
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Thank you.
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My pleasure!
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Don’t forget misclassified.
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Yes, that’s a wonderful word. When things get complicated, it’s easy to get misclassified.
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The posts in this series are always so interesting.
I have heard “working class” and “upper-middle class” in daily speech. I guess “lower class” might sound offensive to people…
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I think people in Edison township here are lower middle class or some middle class. So yes, I guess for an adjective for class, lower is not a good word at all. Thank you for your encouragement.
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Some of these words are so new to me like “taxonomy.” Very interesting post.
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I heard of the word taxidermy for preserving animal, but not taxonomy.
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Yeah same here. Taxidermy is something I’m familiar with although admittedly I find it a little weird.
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I know at least one person in the community here who made a taxidermy from their cat who died a few years ago.
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Wow, that’s interesting. I don’t think I could ever but to each their own.
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Yes, it feels a little weird to me but I guess people are different.
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Yeah I guess so.
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Love the word ‘classified’ and all the meanings that come with it through association! It feels fancy and important . . . 🙂
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I just heard about this word on TV and thought that it can be good for a post.
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