What does "stratification" mean?

The process leading to the formation or deposition of layers, especially of sedimentary rocks.

Stratification

Q: What is a synonym for "stratification"?

Common synonyms include: analysis, arrangement, cataloging, categorization, classification, codification.

noun

noun ·Moderate ·College level

Definitions

Noun

1
The process leading to the formation or deposition of layers, especially of sedimentary rocks. countable, uncountable
"He has misunderstood the English excavators in regard to the stratification of Knossos. He has wrongly imagined that the West Court of Knossos and a great part of the whole west wing belonged to an earlier building, contemporary with the West Court of Phæstos, and that they were later superseded and partly covered over by a later structure, contemporary with the supposed mainland Achæan type of Megaron at Phæstos that is now proved to be no Megaron at all."
2
the placing of seeds in damp sand or sawdust or peat moss in order to preserve them or promote germination wordnet
3
A layering of musical texture. countable, uncountable
4
the act or process or arranging persons into classes or social strata wordnet
5
The vertical layering of vegetation in a forest. countable, uncountable

Show 6 more definitions

6
a layered configuration wordnet
7
Society's categorization of people into socioeconomic strata. countable, uncountable
8
forming or depositing in layers wordnet
9
The process of treating seeds to simulate natural conditions that the seeds must experience before germination can occur, often involving exposure to cold. countable, uncountable
10
the condition of being arranged in social strata or classes within a group wordnet
11
A classification or arrangement of things into different categories or groups. countable, uncountable

Synonyms

All synonyms

analysis arrangement cataloging categorization classification codification

Example

More examples

"He has misunderstood the English excavators in regard to the stratification of Knossos. He has wrongly imagined that the West Court of Knossos and a great part of the whole west wing belonged to an earlier building, contemporary with the West Court of Phæstos, and that they were later superseded and partly covered over by a later structure, contemporary with the supposed mainland Achæan type of Megaron at Phæstos that is now proved to be no Megaron at all."

Etymology

From stratum + -ification.

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.