diff --git a/sdv/data_processing/data_processor.py b/sdv/data_processing/data_processor.py
index cdf6c5630..4887b36cd 100644
--- a/sdv/data_processing/data_processor.py
+++ b/sdv/data_processing/data_processor.py
@@ -403,7 +403,7 @@ def _get_transformer_instance(self, sdtype, column_metadata):
             'range_is_nullable',
             'pii',
             'sdtype',
-            'range_values',
+            'high_cardinality',
         ]
         parameters = {
             key: value for key, value in column_metadata.items() if key not in non_param_keys
diff --git a/sdv/metadata/_single_table.py b/sdv/metadata/_single_table.py
index 6a7e2df9d..3d30beeb1 100644
--- a/sdv/metadata/_single_table.py
+++ b/sdv/metadata/_single_table.py
@@ -60,8 +60,8 @@ class _SingleTableMetadata:
     _SDTYPE_KWARGS = {
         'numerical': frozenset(['range_min', 'range_max', 'range_is_nullable', 'decimal_places']),
         'datetime': frozenset(['datetime_format', 'range_min', 'range_max', 'range_is_nullable']),
-        'categorical': frozenset(['range_values', 'range_is_nullable']),
-        'ordinal': frozenset(['range_values', 'range_is_nullable']),
+        'categorical': frozenset(['range_values', 'range_is_nullable', 'high_cardinality']),
+        'ordinal': frozenset(['range_values', 'range_is_nullable', 'high_cardinality']),
         'boolean': frozenset(['range_is_nullable']),
         'id': frozenset(['regex_format', 'range_is_nullable']),
         'unknown': frozenset(['pii', 'range_is_nullable']),
@@ -226,7 +226,24 @@ def _validate_datetime(column_name, **kwargs):
                 )
 
     @staticmethod
-    def _validate_categorical(column_name, sdtype, **kwargs):
+    def _validate_categorical_and_ordinal(column_name, sdtype, **kwargs):
+        """Validate the metadata keys for the categorical and ordinal sdtypes."""
+        high_cardinality = kwargs.get('high_cardinality')
+        range_values = kwargs.get('range_values')
+        if high_cardinality is not None:
+            if not isinstance(high_cardinality, bool):
+                raise InvalidMetadataError(
+                    f'Invalid `high_cardinality` value provided for {sdtype} column '
+                    f"'{column_name}'. The `high_cardinality` must be a boolean value."
+                )
+
+            if high_cardinality and range_values is not None:
+                raise InvalidMetadataError(
+                    f'Invalid combination of `high_cardinality` and `range_values` for {sdtype} '
+                    f"column '{column_name}'. If high_cardinality is set to True, then range_values"
+                    ' is not allowed to be set for the column.'
+                )
+
         range_values = kwargs.get('range_values')
         if range_values is not None and (
             not isinstance(range_values, list) or len(range_values) == 0
@@ -326,9 +343,9 @@ def _validate_column_args(self, column_name, sdtype, **kwargs):
         self._validate_unexpected_kwargs(column_name, sdtype, **kwargs)
         self._validate_null_range(column_name, **kwargs)
         if sdtype == 'categorical':
-            self._validate_categorical(column_name, sdtype='categorical', **kwargs)
+            self._validate_categorical_and_ordinal(column_name, sdtype='categorical', **kwargs)
         if sdtype == 'ordinal':
-            self._validate_categorical(column_name, sdtype='ordinal', **kwargs)
+            self._validate_categorical_and_ordinal(column_name, sdtype='ordinal', **kwargs)
         elif sdtype == 'numerical':
             self._validate_numerical(column_name, **kwargs)
         elif sdtype == 'datetime':
@@ -848,6 +865,9 @@ def _detect_ranges(self, data):
                 range_values = self._detect_range_values(column_data)
                 if range_values is not None:
                     column_metadata['range_values'] = range_values
+                    column_metadata['high_cardinality'] = False
+                else:
+                    column_metadata['high_cardinality'] = True
 
     def _print_detection(
         self, table_name, data, infer_sdtypes, infer_keys, chosen_pk, sdtype_updated, pii_removed
@@ -862,7 +882,7 @@ def _print_detection(
         if infer_keys == 'primary_only':
             table_str = f" for table '{table_name}'" if table_name else ''
             sys.stdout.write(f'\nDetecting primary key{table_str}:\n')
-            _print_primary_key_detection(chosen_pk, sdtype_updated, pii_removed)
+            _print_primary_key_detection(chosen_pk)
 
     def _detect_columns(
         self, data, table_name=None, infer_sdtypes=True, infer_keys='primary_only', verbose=False
diff --git a/sdv/metadata/metadata.py b/sdv/metadata/metadata.py
index da7b3de01..acae4cdad 100644
--- a/sdv/metadata/metadata.py
+++ b/sdv/metadata/metadata.py
@@ -726,7 +726,6 @@ def _detect_foreign_keys_by_column_name(self, data, verbose=False):
                         continue
 
                     try:
-                        sdtype_updated = False
                         if pk_sdtype == 'id' and original_fk_sdtype != 'id':
                             update_kwargs = {'sdtype': 'id'}
                             if 'range_is_nullable' in original_fk_meta:
@@ -739,7 +738,6 @@ def _detect_foreign_keys_by_column_name(self, data, verbose=False):
                                 column_name=primary_key,
                                 **update_kwargs,
                             )
-                            sdtype_updated = True
                         self.add_relationship(
                             parent_candidate, child_candidate, primary_key, primary_key
                         )
@@ -747,9 +745,8 @@ def _detect_foreign_keys_by_column_name(self, data, verbose=False):
                         if verbose:
                             child_col = f"'{child_candidate}.{primary_key}'"
                             parent_col = f"'{parent_candidate}.{primary_key}'"
-                            suffix = " (updating sdtype to 'id')" if sdtype_updated else ''
                             sys.stdout.write(
-                                f'- Column {child_col} refers to column {parent_col}{suffix}\n'
+                                f'- Column {child_col} refers to column {parent_col}\n'
                             )
 
                     except InvalidMetadataError:
diff --git a/sdv/metadata/utils.py b/sdv/metadata/utils.py
index be2849305..f93d1933e 100644
--- a/sdv/metadata/utils.py
+++ b/sdv/metadata/utils.py
@@ -68,16 +68,9 @@ def _format_column_metadata(sdtype_info):
     return ', '.join(parts)
 
 
-def _print_primary_key_detection(chosen_pk, sdtype_updated, pii_removed):
+def _print_primary_key_detection(chosen_pk):
     if not chosen_pk:
         sys.stdout.write('- No primary key found\n')
         return
 
-    notes = []
-    if sdtype_updated:
-        notes.append("updating sdtype to 'id'")
-    if pii_removed:
-        notes.append("removing 'pii' field")
-
-    suffix = f' ({", ".join(notes)})' if notes else ''
-    sys.stdout.write(f"- primary_key='{chosen_pk}'{suffix}\n")
+    sys.stdout.write(f"- primary_key='{chosen_pk}'\n")
diff --git a/tests/integration/metadata/test_metadata.py b/tests/integration/metadata/test_metadata.py
index fd02cde9f..6251b4291 100644
--- a/tests/integration/metadata/test_metadata.py
+++ b/tests/integration/metadata/test_metadata.py
@@ -1676,17 +1676,17 @@ def test_detect_from_dataframes_verbose_updates_fk_sdtype(capsys):
         "\nDetecting table 'users':\n"
         "- Column 'account': sdtype='id'\n\n"
         "Detecting primary key for table 'users':\n"
-        "- primary_key='account' (updating sdtype to 'id')\n\n"
+        "- primary_key='account'\n\n"
         "Detecting table 'transactions':\n"
         "- Column 'transaction_id': sdtype='id'\n"
         "- Column 'account': sdtype='categorical', range_is_nullable=False, "
         "range_values=['acct_0', 'acct_1', 'acct_2', 'acct_3', 'acct_4', 'acct_5', "
-        "'acct_6', 'acct_7', 'acct_8', 'acct_9']\n\n"
+        "'acct_6', 'acct_7', 'acct_8', 'acct_9'], high_cardinality=False\n\n"
         "Detecting primary key for table 'transactions':\n"
         "- primary_key='transaction_id'\n\n"
         'Detecting foreign keys:\n'
         "- Column 'transactions.account' refers to column "
-        "'users.account' (updating sdtype to 'id')\n"
+        "'users.account'\n"
     )
 
     # Run
@@ -1747,6 +1747,7 @@ def test_detect_from_dataframes_small_dataset():
                         'sdtype': 'categorical',
                         'range_is_nullable': False,
                         'range_values': [True, False],
+                        'high_cardinality': False,
                     },
                 },
             },
@@ -1764,11 +1765,13 @@ def test_detect_from_dataframes_small_dataset():
                         'sdtype': 'categorical',
                         'range_is_nullable': False,
                         'range_values': ['food', 'travel'],
+                        'high_cardinality': False,
                     },
                     'rating': {
                         'sdtype': 'ordinal',
                         'range_is_nullable': False,
                         'range_values': [1, 2, 3, 4, 5],
+                        'high_cardinality': False,
                     },
                     'amount': {
                         'sdtype': 'numerical',
@@ -1801,6 +1804,42 @@ def test_detect_from_dataframes_small_dataset():
     assert metadata.to_dict() == expected_metadata
 
 
+def test_detect_from_dataframes_high_cardinality():
+    """Test the detection of high cardinality columns."""
+    # Setup
+    data = {
+        'users': pd.DataFrame({
+            'user_id': range(3000),
+            'categorical': [f'user_{i}' for i in range(600)] * 5,
+        })
+    }
+    expected_metadata = {
+        'tables': {
+            'users': {
+                'primary_key': 'user_id',
+                'columns': {
+                    'user_id': {
+                        'sdtype': 'id',
+                    },
+                    'categorical': {
+                        'sdtype': 'categorical',
+                        'range_is_nullable': False,
+                        'high_cardinality': True,
+                    },
+                },
+            },
+        },
+        'relationships': [],
+        'METADATA_SPEC_VERSION': 'V2',
+    }
+
+    # Run
+    metadata = Metadata.detect_from_dataframes(data)
+
+    # Assert
+    assert metadata.to_dict() == expected_metadata
+
+
 def test_detect_from_dataframes_verbose_no_pk_found(capsys):
     """Test 'detect_from_dataframes' verbose output when no PK found."""
     # Setup
diff --git a/tests/unit/metadata/test__single_table.py b/tests/unit/metadata/test__single_table.py
index 94af6cc78..01c8f69b0 100644
--- a/tests/unit/metadata/test__single_table.py
+++ b/tests/unit/metadata/test__single_table.py
@@ -291,24 +291,66 @@ def test__validate_datetime_with_datetime_ranges(self, invalid_kwargs, expected_
             instance._validate_datetime('start_date', **invalid_kwargs)
 
     @pytest.mark.parametrize('sdtype', ['ordinal', 'categorical'])
-    def test__validate_categorical(self, sdtype):
-        """Test the ``_validate_categorical`` method."""
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize(
+        ('kwargs', 'expected_error'),
+        [
+            (
+                {'high_cardinality': 'True'},
+                "Invalid `high_cardinality` value provided for {sdtype} column 'name'. "
+                'The `high_cardinality` must be a boolean value.',
+            ),
+            (
+                {'high_cardinality': True, 'range_values': ['a', 'b', 'c']},
+                'Invalid combination of `high_cardinality` and `range_values` for {sdtype} '
+                "column 'name'. If high_cardinality is set to True, then range_values is not "
+                'allowed to be set for the column.',
+            ),
+            (
+                {'range_values': 'a'},
+                "Invalid `range_values` value provided for {sdtype} column 'name'. "
+                'The `range_values` must be a list with 1 or more elements.',
+            ),
+            (
+                {'range_values': []},
+                "Invalid `range_values` value provided for {sdtype} column 'name'. "
+                'The `range_values` must be a list with 1 or more elements.',
+            ),
+            (
+                {'range_values': ['a', None]},
+                "Invalid `range_values` value provided for {sdtype} column 'name'. "
+                'The `range_values` list must not contain null values, use the '
+                '`range_is_nullable` parameter instead.',
+            ),
+        ],
+    )
+    def test__validate_categorical_and_ordinal(self, sdtype, kwargs, expected_error):
+        """Test the ``_validate_categorical_and_ordinal`` method."""
         # Setup
         instance = _SingleTableMetadata()
+        expected_error = re.escape(expected_error.format(sdtype=sdtype))
 
-        # Run / Assert
-        instance._validate_categorical('name', sdtype=sdtype)
-        instance._validate_categorical('name', sdtype=sdtype, range_values=['a', 'b', 'c'])
+        # Run and Assert
+        with pytest.raises(InvalidMetadataError, match=expected_error):
+            instance._validate_categorical_and_ordinal('name', sdtype=sdtype, **kwargs)
 
-        error_msg_range_values = re.escape(
-            f"Invalid `range_values` value provided for {sdtype} column 'name'. "
-            'The `range_values` must be a list with 1 or more elements.'
-        )
-        with pytest.raises(InvalidMetadataError, match=error_msg_range_values):
-            instance._validate_categorical('name', sdtype=sdtype, range_values='a')
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize('sdtype', ['ordinal', 'categorical'])
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize(
+        'kwargs',
+        [
+            {},
+            {'range_values': ['a', 'b', 'c']},
+            {'high_cardinality': False},
+            {'high_cardinality': True},
+            {'high_cardinality': False, 'range_values': ['a', 'b', 'c']},
+        ],
+    )
+    def test__validate_categorical_and_ordinal_valid(self, sdtype, kwargs):
+        """Test the ``_validate_categorical_and_ordinal`` method with valid arguments."""
+        # Setup
+        instance = _SingleTableMetadata()
 
-        with pytest.raises(InvalidMetadataError, match=error_msg_range_values):
-            instance._validate_categorical('name', sdtype=sdtype, range_values=[])
+        # Run and Assert
+        instance._validate_categorical_and_ordinal('name', sdtype=sdtype, **kwargs)
 
     def test__validate_id(self):
         """Test the ``_validate_id`` method.
@@ -483,7 +525,7 @@ def test__validate_column_numerical(self, mock__validate_numerical, mock__valida
         mock__validate_numerical.assert_called_once_with('age', range_min=0.0)
 
     @patch('sdv.metadata._single_table._SingleTableMetadata._validate_unexpected_kwargs')
-    @patch('sdv.metadata._single_table._SingleTableMetadata._validate_categorical')
+    @patch('sdv.metadata._single_table._SingleTableMetadata._validate_categorical_and_ordinal')
     def test__validate_column_categorical(self, mock__validate_categorical, mock__validate_kwargs):
         """Test ``_validate_column`` method.
 
@@ -499,10 +541,10 @@ def test__validate_column_categorical(self, mock__validate_categorical, mock__va
 
         Mock:
             - ``_validate_unexpected_kwargs``
-            - ``_validate_categorical`` function from ``_SingleTableMetadata``.
+            - ``_validate_categorical_and_ordinal`` function from ``_SingleTableMetadata``.
 
         Side effects:
-            - ``_validate_categorical`` has been called once.
+            - ``_validate_categorical_and_ordinal`` has been called once.
         """
         # Setup
         instance = _SingleTableMetadata()
@@ -1315,11 +1357,13 @@ def test__detect_ranges(self, mock_learn_rounding_digits):
             'sdtype': 'categorical',
             'range_values': ['a', 'b'],
             'range_is_nullable': True,
+            'high_cardinality': False,
         }
         assert instance.columns['ordinal'] == {
             'sdtype': 'ordinal',
             'range_values': [1, 2],
             'range_is_nullable': True,
+            'high_cardinality': False,
         }
         assert instance.columns['boolean'] == {
             'sdtype': 'boolean',
@@ -1352,6 +1396,7 @@ def test__detect_ranges_does_not_add_range_values_with_500_unique_values(self):
         assert instance.columns['categorical'] == {
             'sdtype': 'categorical',
             'range_is_nullable': False,
+            'high_cardinality': True,
         }
 
     def test__detect_columns(self, data):
@@ -1668,6 +1713,7 @@ def test_detect_from_dataframe(self, mock_log):
                 'sdtype': 'categorical',
                 'range_is_nullable': True,
                 'range_values': ['cat', 'dog'],
+                'high_cardinality': False,
             },
             'date': {
                 'sdtype': 'datetime',
@@ -1693,6 +1739,7 @@ def test_detect_from_dataframe(self, mock_log):
                 'sdtype': 'categorical',
                 'range_is_nullable': True,
                 'range_values': [True, False],
+                'high_cardinality': False,
             },
         }
 
@@ -1930,6 +1977,7 @@ def test_detect_from_csv(self, mock_log, tmp_path):
                 'sdtype': 'categorical',
                 'range_is_nullable': True,
                 'range_values': ['cat', 'dog', 'tiger'],
+                'high_cardinality': False,
             },
             'date': {
                 'datetime_format': '%Y-%m-%d',
@@ -1956,6 +2004,7 @@ def test_detect_from_csv(self, mock_log, tmp_path):
                 'sdtype': 'categorical',
                 'range_is_nullable': True,
                 'range_values': [True, False],
+                'high_cardinality': False,
             },
         }
 
@@ -2006,6 +2055,7 @@ def test_detect_from_csv_with_kwargs(self, mock_log, tmp_path):
                 'sdtype': 'categorical',
                 'range_is_nullable': True,
                 'range_values': ['cat', 'dog', 'tiger'],
+                'high_cardinality': False,
             },
             'date': {
                 'sdtype': 'datetime',
@@ -2031,6 +2081,7 @@ def test_detect_from_csv_with_kwargs(self, mock_log, tmp_path):
                 'sdtype': 'categorical',
                 'range_is_nullable': True,
                 'range_values': [True, False],
+                'high_cardinality': False,
             },
         }
 
@@ -4397,11 +4448,11 @@ def test__detect_columns_verbose(self, data, capsys):
             "- Column 'alternate_id': sdtype='id', range_is_nullable=False\n"
             "- Column 'alternate_id_string': sdtype='id', range_is_nullable=False\n"
             "- Column 'categorical': sdtype='categorical', range_is_nullable=False, "
-            "range_values=['a', 'b']\n"
+            "range_values=['a', 'b'], high_cardinality=False\n"
             "- Column 'bool': sdtype='categorical', range_is_nullable=False, "
-            'range_values=[True, False]\n'
+            'range_values=[True, False], high_cardinality=False\n'
             "- Column 'unknown': sdtype='categorical', range_is_nullable=True, range_values=["
-            "'a', 'b', 'c', 1, 2.2, 'd', 'e', 'f']\n"
+            "'a', 'b', 'c', 1, 2.2, 'd', 'e', 'f'], high_cardinality=False\n"
             "- Column 'first_name': sdtype='first_name', pii=True, range_is_nullable=False\n"
             '\nDetecting primary key:\n'
             "- primary_key='id'\n"
@@ -4418,10 +4469,7 @@ def test__detect_columns_verbose_infer_sdtypes_false(self, data, capsys):
         """Test the ``_detect_columns`` method with verbose (only print PK)."""
         # Setup
         instance = _SingleTableMetadata()
-        expected_output = (
-            "\nDetecting primary key:\n- primary_key='id' "
-            "(updating sdtype to 'id', removing 'pii' field)\n"
-        )
+        expected_output = "\nDetecting primary key:\n- primary_key='id'\n"
 
         # Run
         instance._detect_columns(data, infer_sdtypes=False, verbose=True)
@@ -4444,11 +4492,11 @@ def test__detect_columns_verbose_infer_keys_none(self, data, capsys):
             "- Column 'alternate_id': sdtype='id', range_is_nullable=False\n"
             "- Column 'alternate_id_string': sdtype='id', range_is_nullable=False\n"
             "- Column 'categorical': sdtype='categorical', range_is_nullable=False, "
-            "range_values=['a', 'b']\n"
+            "range_values=['a', 'b'], high_cardinality=False\n"
             "- Column 'bool': sdtype='categorical', range_is_nullable=False, "
-            'range_values=[True, False]\n'
+            'range_values=[True, False], high_cardinality=False\n'
             "- Column 'unknown': sdtype='categorical', range_is_nullable=True, "
-            "range_values=['a', 'b', 'c', 1, 2.2, 'd', 'e', 'f']\n"
+            "range_values=['a', 'b', 'c', 1, 2.2, 'd', 'e', 'f'], high_cardinality=False\n"
             "- Column 'first_name': sdtype='first_name', pii=True, range_is_nullable=False\n"
         )
 
diff --git a/tests/unit/metadata/test_metadata.py b/tests/unit/metadata/test_metadata.py
index 171fe9cc8..912300341 100644
--- a/tests/unit/metadata/test_metadata.py
+++ b/tests/unit/metadata/test_metadata.py
@@ -818,6 +818,7 @@ def test_add_relationship_child_key_is_primary_key(self):
                             'sdtype': 'categorical',
                             'range_is_nullable': False,
                             'range_values': ['a', 'b', 'c'],
+                            'high_cardinality': False,
                         },
                     },
                 },
@@ -836,6 +837,7 @@ def test_add_relationship_child_key_is_primary_key(self):
                             'sdtype': 'categorical',
                             'range_is_nullable': False,
                             'range_values': ['a', 'b', 'c'],
+                            'high_cardinality': False,
                         },
                     },
                 },
@@ -1459,6 +1461,7 @@ def test_validate_child_key_is_primary_key(self):
                             'sdtype': 'categorical',
                             'range_is_nullable': False,
                             'range_values': ['a', 'b', 'c'],
+                            'high_cardinality': False,
                         },
                     },
                     'primary_key': 'pk',
@@ -1477,6 +1480,7 @@ def test_validate_child_key_is_primary_key(self):
                             'sdtype': 'categorical',
                             'range_is_nullable': False,
                             'range_values': ['a', 'b', 'c'],
+                            'high_cardinality': False,
                         },
                     },
                     'primary_key': 'pk',
@@ -4102,7 +4106,7 @@ def test__get_table_info(self, mock_columns_node, mock_summarized_columns_node):
     @pytest.mark.parametrize(
         'initial_fk_sdtype,expected_suffix',
         [
-            ('categorical', " (updating sdtype to 'id')"),
+            ('categorical', ''),
             ('id', ''),
         ],
     )
diff --git a/tests/unit/metadata/test_utils.py b/tests/unit/metadata/test_utils.py
index c351222a5..50ae14f88 100644
--- a/tests/unit/metadata/test_utils.py
+++ b/tests/unit/metadata/test_utils.py
@@ -83,23 +83,13 @@ def test__format_column_metadata_mixed_value_types():
     assert result == "sdtype='datetime', datetime_format=None, pii=True"
 
 
-@pytest.mark.parametrize(
-    'sdtype_updated,pii_removed,expected',
-    [
-        (False, False, "- primary_key='user_id'\n"),
-        (True, False, "- primary_key='user_id' (updating sdtype to 'id')\n"),
-        (False, True, "- primary_key='user_id' (removing 'pii' field)\n"),
-        (
-            True,
-            True,
-            "- primary_key='user_id' (updating sdtype to 'id', removing 'pii' field)\n",
-        ),
-    ],
-)
-def test__print_primary_key_detection(capsys, sdtype_updated, pii_removed, expected):
-    """Test ``_print_primary_key_detection`` prints the PK with and without notes."""
+def test__print_primary_key_detection(capsys):
+    """Test ``_print_primary_key_detection`` prints the PK."""
+    # Setup
+    expected = "- primary_key='user_id'\n"
+
     # Run
-    _print_primary_key_detection('user_id', sdtype_updated, pii_removed)
+    _print_primary_key_detection('user_id')
 
     # Assert
     assert capsys.readouterr().out == expected
@@ -108,7 +98,7 @@ def test__print_primary_key_detection(capsys, sdtype_updated, pii_removed, expec
 def test__print_primary_key_detection_no_pk(capsys):
     """Test ``_print_primary_key_detection`` prints a fallback message when no PK ."""
     # Run
-    _print_primary_key_detection(None, False, False)
+    _print_primary_key_detection(None)
 
     # Assert
     assert capsys.readouterr().out == '- No primary key found\n'
diff --git a/tests/utils.py b/tests/utils.py
index 8739aebaf..6e56bc2cd 100644
--- a/tests/utils.py
+++ b/tests/utils.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
     'range_max',
     'range_values',
     'decimal_places',
+    'high_cardinality',
 }