classified

1 of 3

adjective

clas·​si·​fied ˈkla-sə-ˌfīd How to pronounce classified (audio)
Synonyms of classified
1
: divided into classes or placed in a class
classified ads
2
: withheld from general circulation for reasons of national security
classified information

classified

2 of 3

noun

: an advertisement grouped with others according to subject
—usually plural

classified

3 of 3

past tense and past participle of classify

Examples of classified in a Sentence

Adjective The part of the report that includes classified information was removed before the report was made public.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Adjective
The ministerial meeting primarily addressed mass-market, peer-to-peer resale platforms and open classified sites handling massive volumes of uncurated, low-cost goods, de Coutard says. — Sophie Lou Wilson, Vogue, 26 Oct. 2026 The memo stresses that troops are forbidden from using both classified and unclassified but nonpublic information to make trades on platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi. — ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
Noun
The French version of the site also organizes listings across broad classifieds categories such as motors, buy/sell/trade, property, services, pets, community, jobs, casual dating and adult-oriented classifieds. — Ascend Agency, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026 Interest in stargazing campsites is substantially larger than generally recognized, says Juliana Baena of RV Trader, an online classifieds site for buying and selling new and used recreational vehicles. — Jeffrey Steele, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for classified

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1789, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1909, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of classified was in 1789

Rhymes for classified

See All Rhymes for classified

Browse Nearby Words

classificatory
classified
classified advertisement
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Classified.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/classified. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

classified

1 of 2 adjective
clas·​si·​fied ˈklas-ə-ˌfīd How to pronounce classified (audio)
1
: divided into classes or placed in a class
classified ads
2
: withheld from the knowledge of the general public for reasons of national security
classified information

classified

2 of 2 noun
: an advertisement grouped with others of the same kind
—usually used in plural

More from Merriam-Webster on classified

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for classified

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