sort of

• sorta
• sort-of

From a reanalysis of "sort of" in a phrase such as "a sort of merry dance" from noun ("sort") and preposition ("of") from the prepositional phrase "of merry dance" to adverb modifying "merry".

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈsɔɹt əv/, [ˈsɔɹɾəv]
• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈsɔːt əv/, [ˈsɔːt əv], [ˈsɔːʔ əv], [ˈsətəv]

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

sort of (not comparable)

1. (idiomatic, colloquial)  Approximately; in a way; partially; not quite; somewhat.
   • 1918, W. B. Maxwell, chapter 19, in The Mirror and the Lamp:

     Nothing was too small to receive attention, if a supervising eye could suggest improvements likely to conduce to the common welfare. Mr. Gordon Burnage, for instance, personally visited dust-bins and back premises, accompanied by a sort of village bailiff, going his round like a commanding officer doing billets.

   • 1963, Margery Allingham, “Foreword”, in The China Governess‎:

     ‘I understand that the district was considered a sort of sanctuary,’ the Chief was saying. ‘An Alsatia like the ancient one behind the Strand, or the Saffron Hill before the First World War. […]’

   It sort of makes sense the way he explains it, but I still don't really understand.

• kind of

• of sorts