Sort

/sɔːrt/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A category or type of things or people that have similar characteristics.

She prefers a particular sort of music that is calming and melodic.

A particular kind or type of something.

He has a sort of charm that makes everyone feel at ease.

A class of people or things regarded as having common characteristics.

That sort of behavior is not acceptable in this community.

verb

To arrange or organize items in a particular order or category.

Please sort the documents by date before filing them.

To classify items or ideas according to different criteria.

We need to sort the applications into different groups based on their criteria.

Middle English, from Old French 'sorte', from Latin 'sors', 'sortis' meaning 'fate, lot'.

sort of:

to some extent; somewhat.

sort out:

to organize or deal with something.

sort it out:

to resolve a problem or conflict.

A type or kind of something, usually used in a vague sense.

It's just a sort of thing that happens sometimes.

Informal way to refer to something that is not specific.

He’s a sort of friend, more like an acquaintance.