[f. SORT v.1: see -ATION.] The action or process of arranging or sorting; arrangement, classification.
1839. Brit. & For. Rev., 454. Every letter … pays for its reception at one post-office,—its sortation, stamping and packing in the mail-bag [etc.].
1844. 5th Rep. Dep. Kpr. Rec., 6. The sortation of them has been begun.
1885. J. W. Hyde, Royal Mail, xi. 164. Thus it will be seen that the sortation of letters is no mere mechanical process.
attrib. 1899. J. A. Harvie-Brown (title), On a Correct Colour Code or Sortation Code in Colours.
