stratification

UK: /ˌstrætɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/

US: /ˌstrætəfɪˈkeɪʃən/

US: (strat′ə fi kā′shən)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

strat•i•fi•ca•tion  (strat′ə fi kā′shən), n. 

1. the act or an instance of stratifying.
2. a stratified state or appearance:
   the stratification of ancient ruins from eight different periods.
3. Sociology the hierarchical or vertical division of society according to rank, caste, or class:
   stratification of feudal society.
4. Geology
   • formation of strata;
     deposition or occurrence in strata.
   • a stratum.

• Medieval Latin strātificātiōn- (stem of strātificātiō). See strati-, -fication
• 1610–20

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

stratification / ˌstrætɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/ noun

1. the arrangement of sedimentary rocks in distinct layers (strata), each layer representing the sediment deposited over a specific period
2. the act of stratifying or state of being stratified

Etymology: 17th Century (in the obsolete sense: the act of depositing in layers) and C18 (in the current senses): from New Latin strātificātiō, from stratificāre to stratify

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

strat•i•fy /ˈstrætəˌfaɪ/   v., -fied, -fy•ing. 

1. to (cause to) be formed in different levels or strata, esp. within a society: [~ + object]
   The society became stratified as the poor got poorer and the rich got richer.
   [no object]
   Their society gradually stratified until movement between different levels became impossible.

strat•i•fi•ca•tion /ˌstrætəfɪˈkeɪʃən/  n. 

[uncountable] stratification into different classes.

See -strat-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

strat•i•fy  (strat′ə fī′), v., -fied, -fy•ing. 
v.t. 

1. to form or place in strata or layers.
2. Agriculture to preserve or germinate (seeds) by placing them between layers of earth.
3. Sociology to arrange in a hierarchical order, esp. according to graded status levels.

v.i. 

4. to form strata.
5. Geology to lie in beds or layers.
6. Sociology to develop hierarchically, esp. as graded status levels.

• modeled on Neo-Latin strātificāre, equivalent. to strāti- strati- + -ficāre -fy 1655–65