plural classes
often attributive
1
a
: a body of students meeting regularly to study the same subject
Several students in the class are absent today.
b
: the period during which such a body meets
c
: a course of instruction
is doing well in her algebra class
d
: a body of students or alumni whose year of graduation is the same
donated by the class of 1995
2
a
: a group sharing the same economic or social status
the working class
b
: social rank
especially
: high social rank
the classes as opposed to the masses
c
: high quality : elegance
a hotel with class
3
: a group, set, or kind sharing common attributes: such as
a
: a major category in biological taxonomy ranking above the order and below the phylum or division
b
: a collection of adjacent and discrete or continuous values of a random variable
c
: a collection of elements (such as numbers or points) : set sense 21
d
: a property of a geometric curve that is equal to the number of tangents that can be drawn to it through any point not on the curve
A curve is said to be of the nth degree or order when any right line meets it in n points and of the nth class when n tangents can be drawn to it through any assumed point.—
George Salmon
George Salmon4
: a division or rating based on grade or quality
a class B movie
5
: the best of its kind
the class of the league
6
: a data type in object-oriented programming that consists of a group of objects (see object entry 1 sense 6a) with the same properties and behaviors and that can be arranged in a hierarchy with other such data types
Examples of class in a Sentence
Noun
There are 20 students in the class.
Several people in the class are absent today.
This class is really difficult.
He will be teaching an American history class next semester.
The college offers classes in computer programming and engineering.
She is taking a class on psychology.
What classes are you taking this semester?
I have an English class this morning.
My class got out early today.
I have already missed two classes.
Verb
I would class that suggestion as helpful, so let's make a note of it.
Recent Examples on the Web
Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
The adults-only Carriage House has direct access to the Kohler Waters Spa and includes complimentary hydrotherapy and wellness amenities, as well as daily breakfast, evening hors d’oeuvres and drinks, and yoga classes.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 28 Oct. 2025
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 22 Oct. 2025
Like the Wauwatosa location, the Mequon shop will be home to a classroom that can accommodate around 32 guests for entertainment, classes rentals and social gatherings, the business' owner, Orey Laev, told the Journal Sentinel in January.
—Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for class
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Cobra Kai star Tanner Buchanan readies for a STRONG Nation high-intensity workout class in Atlanta over the weekend.
—Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
The adults-only Carriage House has direct access to the Kohler Waters Spa and includes complimentary hydrotherapy and wellness amenities, as well as daily breakfast, evening hors d’oeuvres and drinks, and yoga classes.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
This one, too, is trying to be an A-list affair, with good actors doing their best to class up the proceedings.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 22 Oct. 2025
Like the Wauwatosa location, the Mequon shop will be home to a classroom that can accommodate around 32 guests for entertainment, classes rentals and social gatherings, the business' owner, Orey Laev, told the Journal Sentinel in January.
—Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for class
Cite this Entry
“Class.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/class. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
class
1 of 2 noun1
a
: a group of students meeting regularly to study the same subject
b
: the period during which such a group meets
c
: a course of instruction
d
: a group of students who graduate together
class of 1990
2
a
: a group or rank of society
the working class
b
: high social rank
c
: high quality : elegance sense 2
a hotel with class
3
a
: a group or set alike in some way
b
: a major category in biological classification that is above the order and below the phylum or division
c
: a grouping or standing (as of goods or services) based on quality
classless
adjective
-ləs
class
2 of 2 verb
: classify
Medical Definition
class
nounoften attributive
: a group, set, or kind marked by common attributes or a common attribute
especially
: a major category in biological taxonomy ranking above the order and below the phylum or division
the class Mammalia
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share