1772, "action of classifying, act of forming a or dividing into classes," noun of action from Latin stem of classify, or from French classification. Meaning "result of classifying" is from 1789.
Entries linking to classification
classify v.
"arrange in a or classes, arrange according to common characteristics," 1782, from French classifier, from classe (see class (n.)) + -fier (see -fy). Related: Classified; classifying.