stratify

[ strat-uh-fahy ]

verb (used with object)

, strat·i·fied, strat·i·fy·ing.

1. to form or place in strata or layers.
2. to preserve or germinate (seeds) by placing them between layers of earth.
3. Sociology. to arrange in a hierarchical order, especially according to graded status levels.

verb (used without object)

, strat·i·fied, strat·i·fy·ing.

1. to form strata.
2. Geology. to lie in beds or layers.
3. Sociology. to develop hierarchically, especially as graded status levels.

stratify

/ ˈstrætɪˌfaɪ /

verb

1. to form or be formed in layers or strata
2. tr to preserve or render fertile (seeds) by storing between layers of sand or earth
3. sociol to divide (a society) into horizontal status groups or (of a society) to develop such groups

Derived Forms

• ˈstratiˌfied, adjective

Other Words From

• de-strati·fy verb (used with object) destratified destratifying
• multi·strati·fied adjective
• non·strati·fied adjective
• semi·strati·fied adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of stratify¹

1655–65; modeled on New Latin strātificāre, equivalent to strāti- strati- + -ficāre -fy

Word History and Origins

Origin of stratify¹

C17: from French stratifier, from New Latin stratificāre, from Latin stratum

Example Sentences

Compounding the issue is the fact that the Muslim community is also stratified on caste lines, in ways that mirror the Hindu system.

From Time

So I think what we really want to pay attention to, and we will be doing this increasingly, is thinking about better ways of grouping and stratifying individuals and populations.

From Science News

Access to home ownership is also remarkably stratified based on race.

From Time

These rebundling attempts show how stratified the streaming ecosystem is becoming.

From Digiday

Another important consideration is how a survey is weighted or stratified to accurately represent population groups with differing voting patterns.

From Washington Post

Society will stratify itself according to the laws of social gravitation.

From Project Gutenberg

A gas, as explained, is of such a character that it remains fixed and will not stratify or condense.

From Project Gutenberg

It will stratify, and force itself onward through the adjacent and opposing atmosphere, and in a right line.

From Project Gutenberg

But already the Mississippi Valley was beginning to stratify, both socially and geographically.

From Project Gutenberg