What does sorting mean?
Sorting is the process of putting a collection of items into a deliberate order, such as alphabetical, numerical, chronological, or by size. The word can refer to the general activity of organizing things or to the act of classifying them into groups. Sorting is especially common in computing, where sorting algorithms arrange data so it can be searched, compared, or processed efficiently, but it is also everyday language for organizing letters, clothes, documents, or waste. The term can suggest careful organization and efficiency, although it can sometimes imply separation according to rigid categories. As a verb, sorting is the present participle of sort and means performing that organization. Both noun and verb uses are standard in British and American English.
The process of arranging a collection of items or people according to a particular order or criterion.
"Careful sorting of the samples made the experiment easier to conduct."
Common in both everyday and technical contexts.
To arrange items or people in a particular order, often by category or criterion.
"They spent the morning sorting donations into boxes by size."
This is the present participle of sort and can also function as an adjective before a noun.
The plural is uncommon; "sortings" is used mainly when referring to separate instances or results of sorting.
"The archive contains separate sortings of the same collection."
From sorting mail by destination to arranging numbers in a spreadsheet, sorting turns a crowd of separate things into a useful order.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sorting come from?
The verb sort descends from Middle English sorten, which came through Old French sorter. That French word was based on Latin sortiri, "to arrange, separate, or choose by lot," from sors, meaning "lot" or "chance." The development of the word's meaning from selecting by chance to arranging items in categories reflects its gradual broadening. English later developed forms including sorted, sorter, and sortable, while related words such as assort and assortment preserve the same Latin root.
Related word forms
How sorting is actually used
The noun is common in both formal and informal contexts. As an adjective, it usually occurs attributively in technical or established phrases such as "sorting algorithm" and "sorting office."
Easily confused with sorting
Sorting means arranging existing items into an order, whereas sourcing means obtaining materials or supplies from a source.