group object

noun

Given a category C, any object X ∈ C on which morphisms are defined corresponding to the group theoretic concepts of a binary operation (called multiplication), identity and inverse, such that multiplication is associative and properties are satisfied that correspond to the existence of inverse elements and the identity element.

Meanings

noungroup object (plural group objects)

plural group objects

  1. category theoryGiven a category C, any object X ∈ C on which morphisms are defined corresponding to the group theoretic concepts of a binary operation (called multiplication), identity and inverse, such that multiplication is associative and properties are satisfied that correspond to the existence of inverse elements and the identity element.
    2 more examples

    If H is another group object in C, a morphism f#58;G#92;rightarrowH is a morphism of group objects if it commutes with the three structure morphisms; as is standard for sets and true generally (again by Lemma 7.7), it is enough to check #92;mu. Thus we form the category #92;textit#123;Gp#125;(C) of all group objects in C; one important example is #92;textit#123;Gp#125;(#92;textit#123;Ho#125;).

    1995, J. Michael Boardman, “Chapter 14: Stable Operations in Generalized Cohomology”, in I.M. James, editor, Handbook of Algebraic Topology, Elsevier (North-Holland), page 617

    2005, Angelo Vistoli, Part 1: Grothendieck typologies, fibered categories, and descent theory, Barbara Fantechi, Lothar Göttsche, Luc Illusie, Steven L. Kleiman, Nitin Nitsure, Angelo Vistoli, Fundamental Algebraic Geometry: Grothendieck's FGA Explained, American Mathematical Society, page 20, The identity is obviously a homomorphism from a group object to itself. Furthermore, the composite of homomorphisms of group objects is still a homomorphism; thus, group objects in a fixed category form a category, which we denote by Grp(C).

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APA

group object. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/group%20object

MLA

“group object.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/group%20object. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “group object,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/group%20object.

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