Categorical
adjective
Absolute; without exception or condition; unconditional.
She made a categorical denial of the charges.
Often appears as...
- categorical denial
- categorical statement
adjective
Belonging to a certain category or class.
The items are listed in categorical order.
Often appears as...
- categorical order
- categorical division
adjective
In logic, pertaining to the use of categories.
A categorical proposition is an assertion about the relationship between categories.
Often appears as...
- categorical proposition
- categorical logic
Usage tips
Academic
adjective
Absolute; without exception or condition; unconditional.
She made a categorical denial of the charges.
Often appears as...
- categorical denial
- categorical statement
adjective
Belonging to a certain category or class.
The items are listed in categorical order.
Often appears as...
- categorical order
- categorical division
adjective
In logic, pertaining to the use of categories.
A categorical proposition is an assertion about the relationship between categories.
Often appears as...
- categorical proposition
- categorical logic
Usage tips
Academic
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3No Doubts Allowed
When something is stated categorically, it's asserting total certainty or rejection, leaving no room for doubt.
He issued a categorical denial of ever having accepted bribes.
Pro Tip 2/3Serious Tone
Using 'categorical' implies a serious and firm tone, often used in formal situations or arguments.
I offer my categorical assurance that the project will be completed on time.
Pro Tip 3/3Strong Emphasis
Use 'categorical' to emphasize the strength and decisiveness of a statement, refusal, or approval.
The manager's categorical approval signaled a major shift in company policy.
Pro Tip 1/3No Doubts Allowed
When something is stated categorically, it's asserting total certainty or rejection, leaving no room for doubt.
He issued a categorical denial of ever having accepted bribes.
Pro Tip 2/3Serious Tone
Using 'categorical' implies a serious and firm tone, often used in formal situations or arguments.
I offer my categorical assurance that the project will be completed on time.
Pro Tip 3/3Strong Emphasis
Use 'categorical' to emphasize the strength and decisiveness of a statement, refusal, or approval.
The manager's categorical approval signaled a major shift in company policy.
Pro Tip 1/3No Doubts Allowed
When something is stated categorically, it's asserting total certainty or rejection, leaving no room for doubt.
He issued a categorical denial of ever having accepted bribes.
Pro Tip 2/3Serious Tone
Using 'categorical' implies a serious and firm tone, often used in formal situations or arguments.
I offer my categorical assurance that the project will be completed on time.
Pro Tip 3/3Strong Emphasis
Use 'categorical' to emphasize the strength and decisiveness of a statement, refusal, or approval.
The manager's categorical approval signaled a major shift in company policy.
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Video examples
The language of lying —...
And finally, even though liars keep descriptions simple, they tend to use longer and more convoluted sentence structure, inserting unnecessary words and irrelevant but factual sounding details in order to pad the lie. Another President confronted with a scandal "I can say, categorically, that this investigation indicates
Video examples
Rufus Griscom and Alisa...
the venture capitalists said, "We categorically don't invest in companies founded by husbands and wives, because there's an extra point of failure. It's a bad idea. Don't do it." And we obviously went forward. We did. We raised the money, and we're thrilled that we did,
Video examples
Diving 1000m Below The...
waters are dwindling we now know that certain areas of the deep sea may be targeted for certain types of exploitation so we can begin to think about what might be endangered but there are very few animals in deep sea that we can categorically say are endangered one
Video examples
The mystery of chronic...
categorically cold to the touch the muscles were frozen paralyzed dystonic is how we refer to that the pain had spread from her wrist to her hands to her fingertips from her wrist up to her elbow almost all the way to her shoulder but the worst part was
Video examples
Tonya vs. Nancy PIPE...
but accuses Tonya of being the mastermind Tonya categorically denies those allegations anything wrong Jeff and his buddies thought that they were going to start up a security business I mean morons that couldn't even polish shoes or put
Video examples
Does money make you...
After watching this video, an hour later, rich people became just as generous of their own time to help out this other person, a stranger, as someone who's poor, suggesting that these differences are not innate or categorical,
Video examples
Richard Ledgett: The NSA...
that say that the things that have been disclosed have not put national security and people at risk, and that is categorically not true. They actually do. I think there's also an amazing arrogance
Video examples
How language shapes the...
don't give that surprise, because nothing is categorically changing. Languages have all kinds of structural quirks. This is one of my favorites. Lots of languages have grammatical gender;
Video examples
Rediscovering ourselves...
elephants in spite of the impact on trees are traditionally Africa's greatest tree planters and so I have a question are human beings a keystone species the answer is a categorical no
Video examples
Where on Earth Will...
From the standpoint of human geography, why we live where we live in the world, it's actually driven by a fairly categorically organized set of variables.
Video examples
The language of lying —...
And finally, even though liars keep descriptions simple, they tend to use longer and more convoluted sentence structure, inserting unnecessary words and irrelevant but factual sounding details in order to pad the lie. Another President confronted with a scandal "I can say, categorically, that this investigation indicates
Video examples
Rufus Griscom and Alisa...
the venture capitalists said, "We categorically don't invest in companies founded by husbands and wives, because there's an extra point of failure. It's a bad idea. Don't do it." And we obviously went forward. We did. We raised the money, and we're thrilled that we did,
Video examples
Diving 1000m Below The...
waters are dwindling we now know that certain areas of the deep sea may be targeted for certain types of exploitation so we can begin to think about what might be endangered but there are very few animals in deep sea that we can categorically say are endangered one
Video examples
The mystery of chronic...
categorically cold to the touch the muscles were frozen paralyzed dystonic is how we refer to that the pain had spread from her wrist to her hands to her fingertips from her wrist up to her elbow almost all the way to her shoulder but the worst part was
Video examples
Tonya vs. Nancy PIPE...
but accuses Tonya of being the mastermind Tonya categorically denies those allegations anything wrong Jeff and his buddies thought that they were going to start up a security business I mean morons that couldn't even polish shoes or put
Video examples
Does money make you...
After watching this video, an hour later, rich people became just as generous of their own time to help out this other person, a stranger, as someone who's poor, suggesting that these differences are not innate or categorical,
Video examples
Richard Ledgett: The NSA...
that say that the things that have been disclosed have not put national security and people at risk, and that is categorically not true. They actually do. I think there's also an amazing arrogance
Video examples
How language shapes the...
don't give that surprise, because nothing is categorically changing. Languages have all kinds of structural quirks. This is one of my favorites. Lots of languages have grammatical gender;
Video examples
Rediscovering ourselves...
elephants in spite of the impact on trees are traditionally Africa's greatest tree planters and so I have a question are human beings a keystone species the answer is a categorical no
Video examples
Where on Earth Will...
From the standpoint of human geography, why we live where we live in the world, it's actually driven by a fairly categorically organized set of variables.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Peter Pace
American General
I can tell you categorically that any mal-treatment of any detainees by U.S. forces or coalition forces is totally unacceptable - that our orders have and will continue to be that we will treat everyone in our charge with - humanely and with respect.
Quote examples
Kevin Parker
Australian Musician
I used to hate iPhones. Before I got an iPhone, I used to be like, 'What are you doing, sitting there on your phone. Join the real world, man.' I categorically disliked iPhones. When my friends got an iPhone, I was like, 'Oh, we lost him.
Quote examples
Robert Lopez
American Musician
People are born with the ability to make judgments. And they can't help but use the information they have to divine something about the world they're in. Making categorical judgments, in large, helps our society.
Quote examples
Reham Khan
I categorically state that I did not participate in PTI politics. I was told to be engaged in certain activities as wives of politicians are asked to do all over the world.
Quote examples
Annie Lowrey
American Journalist
The world needs to slash emissions by tens of billions of tons annually, which categorically requires government investment and government regulations.
Quote examples
Immanuel Kant
German Philosopher
A categorical imperative would be one which represented an action as objectively necessary in itself, without reference to any other purpose.
Quote examples
Stephen Daldry
English Director
I categorically resist this idea that films are supposed to be autobiographical and the only stories you tell are about your own life.
Quote examples
Robert Zubrin
American Scientist
It should be noted that the EPA's banning of methanol is categorically absurd from the point of view of environmental protection.
Quote examples
Sergei Lavrov
Russian Diplomat
We are categorically against proliferation of nuclear weapons.
Quote examples
Drew Pinsky
American Celebrity
I always hate taking categorical positions.
Quote examples
Peter Pace
American General
I can tell you categorically that any mal-treatment of any detainees by U.S. forces or coalition forces is totally unacceptable - that our orders have and will continue to be that we will treat everyone in our charge with - humanely and with respect.
Quote examples
Kevin Parker
Australian Musician
I used to hate iPhones. Before I got an iPhone, I used to be like, 'What are you doing, sitting there on your phone. Join the real world, man.' I categorically disliked iPhones. When my friends got an iPhone, I was like, 'Oh, we lost him.
Quote examples
Robert Lopez
American Musician
People are born with the ability to make judgments. And they can't help but use the information they have to divine something about the world they're in. Making categorical judgments, in large, helps our society.
Quote examples
Reham Khan
I categorically state that I did not participate in PTI politics. I was told to be engaged in certain activities as wives of politicians are asked to do all over the world.
Quote examples
Annie Lowrey
American Journalist
The world needs to slash emissions by tens of billions of tons annually, which categorically requires government investment and government regulations.
Quote examples
Immanuel Kant
German Philosopher
A categorical imperative would be one which represented an action as objectively necessary in itself, without reference to any other purpose.
Quote examples
Stephen Daldry
English Director
I categorically resist this idea that films are supposed to be autobiographical and the only stories you tell are about your own life.
Quote examples
Robert Zubrin
American Scientist
It should be noted that the EPA's banning of methanol is categorically absurd from the point of view of environmental protection.
Quote examples
Sergei Lavrov
Russian Diplomat
We are categorically against proliferation of nuclear weapons.
Quote examples
Drew Pinsky
American Celebrity
I always hate taking categorical positions.
Example 1 of 10
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