categorical

[ kat-i-gawr-i-kuhl, -gor- ]

adjective

1. without exceptions or conditions; absolute; unqualified and unconditional:

   a categorical denial.

   Synonyms: downright, flat, positive

2. Logic.
   1. (of a proposition) analyzable into a subject and an attribute related by a copula, as in the proposition “All humans are mortal.”
   2. (of a syllogism) having categorical propositions as premises.
3. of, relating to, or in a category.

categorical

/ ˌkætɪˈɡɒrɪkəl /

adjective

1. unqualified; positive; unconditional

   a categorical statement

2. relating to or included in a category
3. logic another word for categorial

Derived Forms

• ˌcateˈgoricalness, noun
• ˌcateˈgorically, adverb

Other Words From

• cat·e·gor·i·cal·ly adverb
• cat·e·gor·i·cal·ness noun
• non·cat·e·gor·i·cal adjective
• non·cat·e·gor·i·cal·ness noun
• un·cat·e·gor·i·cal adjective
• un·cat·e·gor·i·cal·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of categorical¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Late Latin catēgoric(us) (from Greek katēgorikós; category, -ic ) + -al ¹

Example Sentences

Vance describes TPS as “fundamentally illegal” because it is granted by the executive branch, at its discretion, on a categorical basis.

From Slate

In fact, however, the TPS program was created by an act of Congress that grants the executive branch the power to issue the status, at its discretion, on a categorical basis.

From Slate

After the backlash, though, the organization amended the statement several times to try to clarify their position, saying there are “bad actors in the AI space,” but that they find “the categorical condemnation for AI to be problematic.”

From Slate

Some cynics will note that this stops short of a categorical assertion that a youth mobility scheme will never happen.

From BBC

"We have the records showing our categorical and mathematically irreversible victory," Mr González said.

From BBC

Related Words

• absolute
• clear-cut
• definite
• definitive
• emphatic
• forthright
• unambiguous
• unequivocal