categorical
Meaning: Unambiguously explicit and direct; stated without any conditions, exceptions, or qualifications.
A categorical statement leaves no room for doubt or interpretation. 'A categorical denial' is one made without any hedging or qualification. In philosophy, Kant's 'categorical imperative' is a moral principle that applies unconditionally. The word is also used in its literal sense of 'relating to categories' — categorical data in statistics is data that can be divided into groups. The adverb 'categorically' is extremely common: 'I categorically deny the allegation.'
Examples
- The spokesperson issued a categorical denial of any involvement in the scandal. 发言人就该丑闻发表了断然否认的声明。El portavoz emitió una negación categórica de cualquier implicación en el escándalo.広報担当者はそのスキャンダルへの一切の関与を断固として否定する声明を発表しました。대변인은 그 스캔들에 대한 일체의 관여를 단호히 부인하는 성명을 발표했다.
- The judge's ruling was categorical — there were no grounds for appeal. 法官的裁决是断然的——没有上诉的余地。El fallo del juez fue categórico: no había motivos para recurrir.裁判官の判決は明確なものであり、控訴の余地はありませんでした。판사의 판결은 단정적이었으며, 항소의 여지가 없었다.
- She categorically refused to accept the revised terms of the contract. 她断然拒绝接受修改后的合同条款。Se negó categóricamente a aceptar las condiciones revisadas del contrato.彼女は修正された契約条件の受け入れを断固として拒否しました。그녀는 수정된 계약 조건의 수락을 단호히 거부했다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: academic, media, professional
Tone: neutral
Origin & History
From Late Latin categoricus, from Greek kategorikos (accusatory, affirmative), from kategoria (accusation, assertion), from kategorein (to accuse, assert). Entered English in the late 16th century.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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