Synonyms

stereotypical

American

[ster-ee-uh-tip-i-kuhl, steer-] / ˌstɛr i əˈtɪp ɪ kəl, ˌstɪər- /

Also stereotypic

adjective

portraying a simplified and standardized conception or image, often one that is construed as derogatory.

She is frustrated by the shallow and stereotypical roles that she is offered as an Asian actor.
The stereotypical environmentalist is a white dude wearing sandals and tie-dye.

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of stereotypical

stereotyp(e) ( def. ) + -ical ( def. )

Explanation

Stereotypical describes an action or a characterization that is oversimplified, widely imitated, or handed down by tradition. As in Aesop’s Fables, stereotypical characters behave predictably, or according to type, which, in Greek, literally means to strike in a mold or an impression. But most interesting people and stories do not easily fit into molds, and typecasts can be socially offensive. It might be stereotypical in a comedy skit to see police officers eating donuts, but when you get pulled over for missing a stop sign it’s best to keep that idea to yourself!

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing stereotypical

All American Boys

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

This Week in Pop Culture: August 10–16, 2019

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Boy

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But the real real-world version of this is brain-meltingly complicated: Now you can buy a commemorative Barbie doll that represents the Stereotypical Barbie of Barbie, as played by Robbie.

From Slate • Aug. 15, 2023

It’s odd: In the first half of the film, Margot Robbie, as the lead, Stereotypical Barbie, operates from a body that is restrained — she’s clunky.

From New York Times • Jul. 28, 2023

It also primes us to better appreciate the existential panic that coldcocks Stereotypical Barbie at a parallel moment in Greta Gerwig's "Barbie."

From Salon • Jul. 24, 2023

Why are Stereotypical Barbie’s feet, normally perpetually posed in heel-friendly tiptoe, suddenly flat?

From Seattle Times • Jul. 18, 2023

Tiptoeing into the spotlight on perfectly arched feet is Robbie as Stereotypical Barbie, whose self-mocking name and lead-heroine status are a handy example of Gerwig’s have-it-both-ways attitude.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 18, 2023

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023