pigeonhole

[ pij-uhn-hohl ]

/ ˈpɪdʒ ənˌhoʊl /

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See synonyms for: pigeonhole / pigeonholed on Thesaurus.com

noun

one of a series of small, open compartments, as in a desk, cabinet, or the like, used for filing or sorting papers, letters, etc.

a hole or recess, or one of a series of recesses, for pigeons to nest in.

Also called pigeon hole, white hole. Printing. white space created by setting words or lines too far apart.

verb (used with object), pi·geon·holed, pi·geon·hol·ing.

to assign to a definite place or to definite places in some orderly system: to pigeonhole new ideas.

to lay aside for use or reference at some later, indefinite time: We must pigeonhole this excellent plan until the time is ripe.

to put aside for the present, especially with the intention of ignoring or forgetting, often indefinitely: to pigeonhole an unwanted invitation.

to place in or as if in a pigeonhole or pigeonholes: to pigeonhole papers.

to fit or provide with pigeonholes: The desk must be pigeonholed for all my papers.

OTHER WORDS FOR pigeonhole

4 categorize, catalog.

5 file.

6 postpone, shelve.

See synonyms for pigeonhole on Thesaurus.com

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of pigeonhole

First recorded in 1570–80; pigeon¹ + hole

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use pigeonhole in a sentence

His monotonous music is, really, like the audio soundtrack to a k-hole.
The Cult of Yung Lean: ‘I’m Building An Anarchistic Society From the Ground Up’|Marlow Stern|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
I rolled him over to see where it came out, and there was no big hole in the back.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile|Robert Ward|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Well over a thousand holes in, I average less than four strokes per hole.
Lost For Thousands of Strokes: 'Desert Golfing' Is 'Angry Birds' as Modern Art|Alec Kubas-Meyer|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Instead of going for the hole, I hit the ball directly into the water.
Lost For Thousands of Strokes: 'Desert Golfing' Is 'Angry Birds' as Modern Art|Alec Kubas-Meyer|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST

There is only sand, a white ball, and a flag indicating the hole.
Lost For Thousands of Strokes: 'Desert Golfing' Is 'Angry Birds' as Modern Art|Alec Kubas-Meyer|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Before he could finish the sentence the Hole-keeper said snappishly, "Well, drop out again—quick!"
Davy and The Goblin|Charles E. Carryl
Kind of a reception-room in there—guess I know a reception-room from a hole in the wall.
Boys and Girls Bookshelf; a Practical Plan of Character Building, Volume I (of 17)|Various
Squinty, several times, looked at the hole under the pen, by which he had once gotten out.
Squinty the Comical Pig|Richard Barnum
Madame and myself had just been regretting that we should have to pass the evening in this miserable hole of a town.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 60, No. 372, October 1846|Various
And if he was worried about Farmer Green's cat, why didn't he dig a hole for himself at once, and get out of harm's way?
The Tale of Grandfather Mole|Arthur Scott Bailey

British Dictionary definitions for pigeonhole

pigeonhole

/ (ˈpɪdʒɪnˌhəʊl) /

noun

a small compartment for papers, letters, etc, as in a bureau

a hole or recess in a dovecote for pigeons to nest in

informal a category or classification

verb (tr)

to put aside or defer

to classify or categorize, esp in a rigid manner

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

pigeonhole

OTHER WORDS FOR pigeonhole

Origin of pigeonhole

Words related to pigeonhole

How to use pigeonhole in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for pigeonhole