Also known as class. Each of the different categories of claims against a debtor in bankruptcy. A plan of reorganization must categorize all claims (other than certain priority claims) into classes for the purposes of voting, receiving distributions under the plan and otherwise generally providing a framework under which the provisions of the plan dealing with classified claims will operate. Claims may be placed in the same class only if they are "substantially similar" to one another. This depends on the nature of the claim (for example, general unsecured claims, priority wage claims, and so on), and not on the on the creditor's characteristics (for example, institutional investors, trade creditors, and so on). All claims within a particular class must be treated the same, unless the holder agrees to less favorable treatment.