Kind vs. Type: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
'Kind' refers to a group of things or people with common characteristics, while 'type' is a category defined by specific attributes or qualities.
Key Differences
Kind refers to a group or category of things or people sharing similar characteristics or qualities, often used in a broader, more general sense. Type, however, often implies a more specific categorization, based on distinct attributes or defined criteria.
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When using 'kind', the focus is usually on general traits that unify a category, emphasizing commonalities. 'Type' typically suggests a subdivision within a larger category, highlighting specific defining features.
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'Kind' is often used in everyday language to refer to varieties or sorts of things in a general way. 'Type' is frequently used in more technical or specialized contexts, where precise classification is important.
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The usage of 'kind' conveys a sense of grouping based on shared qualities, without necessarily being precise. In contrast, 'type' suggests a more systematic or scientific classification.
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For example, in biology, 'kind' might be used to refer to a broad category like mammals, whereas 'type' could specify subcategories, like marsupials or primates, within that broader group.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A group with common characteristics
A category with specific attributes
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Example in Biology
Broad category like mammals
Specific subcategories like marsupials
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Kind and Type Definitions
Kind
Kind refers to a group sharing similar characteristics.
There are many kinds of birds in the tropical forest.
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Type
Type refers to a category distinguished by specific characteristics.
What type of car do you prefer, sedan or SUV?
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Kind
Kind means a variety or sort of something.
She likes all kinds of music, from classical to rock.
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Type
Type means a particular class or group with defined features.
She specializes in a specific type of architectural design.
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Kind
Having or showing a friendly, generous, sympathetic, or warm-hearted nature.
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Type
Type implies a subdivision within a broader category.
Among the types of tea available, green tea is my favorite.
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Type
A number of people or things having in common traits or characteristics that distinguish them as a group or class:That type of car was popular in the 1970s. See Synonyms at kind.
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Kind
A group of individuals or instances sharing common traits; a category or sort
Different kinds of furniture.
A new kind of politics.
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Type
A person or thing having the features of a group or class:He is the type of person that is bound to get into trouble.
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Kind
A doubtful or borderline member of a given category
Fashioned a kind of shelter.
A kind of bluish color.
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Type
An example or a model having the ideal features of a group or class; an embodiment:"He was the perfect type of a military dandy"(Joyce Cary).
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Kind
Underlying character as a determinant of the class to which a thing belongs; nature or essence.
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Type
A person regarded as exemplifying a particular profession, rank, or social group:a group of executive types; a restaurant frequented by tourist types.
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Type
A figure, representation, or symbol of something to come, such as an event in the Old Testament that is believed to foreshadow another in the New Testament.
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Type
(Biology)The type specimen, type species, or type genus, which serves as the basis for the name of a species, genus, or family.
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Type
A small block of metal or wood bearing a raised letter or character on the upper end that leaves a printed impression when inked and pressed on paper.
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Kind
A type, race or category; a group of entities that have common characteristics such that they may be grouped together.
What kind of a person are you?
This is a strange kind of tobacco.
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Type
Printed or typewritten characters; print:Let's see how your letter looks in type.
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Kind
A makeshift or otherwise atypical specimen.
The opening served as a kind of window.
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Type
A size or style of printed or typewritten characters; a typeface:a sans-serif type.
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Type
A pattern, a design, or an image impressed or stamped onto the face of a coin.
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Type
To input (something) manually on an electronic device, especially by using a keyboard.
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Type
To assign to a category; classify or characterize:a political candidate who was typed as indecisive.
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Kind
Equivalent means used as response to an action.
I'll pay in kind for his insult.
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Type
To determine the antigenic characteristics of (a blood or tissue sample).
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Kind
(Christianity) Each of the two elements of the communion service, bread and wine.
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Kind
Having a benevolent, courteous, friendly, generous, gentle, liberal, sympathetic, or warm-hearted nature or disposition, marked by consideration for – and service to – others.
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Type
A grouping based on shared characteristics; a class.
This type of plane can handle rough weather more easily than that type of plane.
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Type
An individual considered typical of its class, one regarded as typifying a certain profession, environment, etc.
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Kind
Mild, gentle, forgiving
The years have been kind to Richard Gere; he ages well.
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Type
A letter or character used for printing, historically a cast or engraved block.
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Kind
(obsolete) Characteristic of the species; belonging to one's nature; natural; native.
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Type
(uncountable) Such types collectively, or a set of type of one font or size.
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Kind
Characteristic of the species; belonging to one's nature; natural; native.
It becometh sweeter than it should be, and loseth the kind taste.
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Type
Text printed with such type, or imitating its characteristics.
The headline was set in bold type.
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Kind
Having feelings befitting our common nature; congenial; sympathetic; as, a kind man; a kind heart.
Yet was he kind, or if severe in aught,The love he bore to learning was his fault.
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Type
(taxonomy) Something, often a specimen, selected as an objective anchor to connect a scientific name to a taxon; this need not be representative or typical.
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Kind
Showing tenderness or goodness; disposed to do good and confer happiness; averse to hurting or paining; benevolent; benignant; gracious.
He is kind unto the unthankful and to evil.
O cruel Death, to those you take more kindThan to the wretched mortals left behind.
A fellow feeling makes one wondrous kind.
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Type
Preferred sort of person; sort of person that one is attracted to.
We can't get along: he's just not my type.
He was exactly her type.
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Kind
Proceeding from, or characterized by, goodness, gentleness, or benevolence; as, a kind act.
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Type
(corpus linguistics) A word that occurs in a text or corpus irrespective of how many times it occurs, as opposed to a token.
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Kind
Nature; natural instinct or disposition.
He knew by kind and by no other lore.
Some of you, on pure instinct of nature,Are led by kind t'admire your fellow-creature.
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Type
(theology) An event or person that prefigures or foreshadows a later event - commonly an Old Testament event linked to Christian times.
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Kind
Race; genus; species; generic class; as, in mankind or humankind.
Every kind of beasts, and of birds.
She follows the law of her kind.
Here to sow the seed of bread,That man and all the kinds be fed.
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Type
(computing theory) A tag attached to variables and values used in determining which kinds of value can be used in which situations; a data type.
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Kind
Sort; type; class; nature; style; character; fashion; manner; variety; description; as, there are several kinds of eloquence, of style, and of music; many kinds of government; various kinds of soil, etc.
How diversely Love doth his pageants play,And snows his power in variable kinds !
There is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.
Diogenes was asked in a kind of scorn: What was the matter that philosophers haunted rich men, and not rich men philosophers?
Tax on tillage was often levied in kind upon corn.
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Type
(fine arts) The original object, or class of objects, scene, face, or conception, which becomes the subject of a copy; especially, the design on the face of a medal or a coin.
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Type
(chemistry) A simple compound, used as a mode or pattern to which other compounds are conveniently regarded as being related, and from which they may be actually or theoretically derived.
The fundamental types used to express the simplest and most essential chemical relations are hydrochloric acid, water, ammonia, and methane.
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Kind
A category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality;
Sculpture is a form of art
What kinds of desserts are there?
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Type
(mathematics) A part of the partition of the object domain of a logical theory (which due to the existence of such partition, would be called a typed theory). (Note: this corresponds to the notion of "data type" in computing theory.)
Categorial grammar is like a combination of context-free grammar and types.
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Kind
Having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior;
Kind to sick patients
A kind master
Kind words showing understanding and sympathy
Thanked her for her kind letter
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Kind
Conducive to comfort; beneficial;
The genial sunshine
A kind climate
Hot summer pavements are anything but kind to the feet
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Type
To determine the blood type of.
The doctor ordered the lab to type the patient for a blood transfusion.
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Kind
Characterized by mercy, and compassion;
Compassionate toward disadvantaged people
Kind to animals
A humane judge
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Kind
Helpful to other people;
Helping an old lady with her bundles was his kind deed for the day
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Kind
Tolerant and forgiving under provocation;
Our neighbor was very kind about the window our son broke
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Type
The mark or impression of something; stamp; impressed sign; emblem.
The faith they have in tennis, and tall stockings,Short blistered breeches, and those types of travel.
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Kind
Showing consideration and anticipation of needs;
It was thoughtful of you to bring flowers
A neighbor showed thoughtful attention
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Type
Form or character impressed; style; semblance.
Thy father bears the type of king of Naples.
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Kind
Generously responsive;
Good-hearted but inept efforts to help
Take a kindly interest
A kindly gentleman
An openhearted gift to charity
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Type
A figure or representation of something to come; a token; a sign; a symbol; - correlative to antitype.
A type is no longer a type when the thing typified comes to be actually exhibited.
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Kind
Kind is a category of items with shared traits.
In this store, you can find every kind of kitchen gadget.
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Type
That which possesses or exemplifies characteristic qualities; the representative.
Since the time of Cuvier and Baer . . . the whole animal kingdom has been universally held to be divisible into a small number of main divisions or types.
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Kind
Kind implies a classification based on general similarities.
There are several kinds of roses in her garden.
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Type
The original object, or class of objects, scene, face, or conception, which becomes the subject of a copy; esp., the design on the face of a medal or a coin.
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Kind
Kind denotes a group or type with common qualities.
He showed kindness to all kinds of animals.
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Type
A raised letter, figure, accent, or other character, cast in metal or cut in wood, used in printing.
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Type
A simple compound, used as a model or pattern to which other compounds are conveniently regarded as being related, and from which they may be actually or theoretically derived.
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Type
To furnish an expression or copy of; to represent; to typify.
Let us type them now in our own lives.
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Type
A subdivision of a particular kind of thing;
What type of sculpture do you prefer?
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Type
A person of a specified kind (usually with many eccentricities);
A real character
A strange character
A friendly eccentric
The capable type
A mental case
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Type
(biology) the taxonomic group whose characteristics are used to define the next higher taxon
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Type
A small metal block bearing a raised character on one end; produces a printed character when inked and pressed on paper;
He dropped a case of type, so they made him pick them up
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Type
All of the tokens of the same symbol;
The word `element' contains five different types of character
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Type
Write by means of a keyboard with types;
Type the acceptance letter, please
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Type
Identify as belonging to a certain type;
Such people can practically be typed
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Type
Type denotes a specific variation within a group.
This museum showcases various types of ancient pottery.
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Type
Type is a classification based on particular attributes.
Blood type is an important factor in medical transfusions.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
Is kind used in a general sense?
Yes, it's used for general categorization.
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Can kind refer to different sorts of things?
Yes, it often refers to various sorts or varieties.
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Does kind emphasize common traits?
Yes, it focuses on shared characteristics.
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Is type used in scientific classification?
Yes, frequently in systematic categorizations.
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Does type imply a methodical approach?
Yes, it suggests a systematic classification.
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Is type used in technical contexts?
Yes, especially where precise classification is needed.
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Does type require distinct attributes?
Yes, it's based on specific defining features.
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Is type more specific than kind?
Yes, type usually implies more specific categorization.
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Can kind be used to describe people?
Yes, referring to groups with shared qualities.
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How is kind used in everyday language?
As a general term for varieties or categories.
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Does kind have a broader application?
Yes, it's applicable in a wide range of contexts.
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Is type often used in categorizing products?
Yes, especially in marketing and manufacturing.
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Can type refer to subcategories?
Yes, it often denotes specific subdivisions.
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Can both terms be used interchangeably?
Sometimes, but they have different nuances.
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Does kind denote a sense of belonging?
Yes, it implies a sense of group belonging.
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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