pigeonhole

[ pij-uhn-hohl ]

/ ˈpɪdʒ ənˌhoʊl /

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.

SYNONYMS FOR pigeonhole

4 categorize, catalog.

5 file.

6 postpone, shelve.

See synonyms for pigeonhole on Thesaurus.com

QUIZZES

THIS PSAT VOCABULARY QUIZ IS PERFECT PRACTICE FOR THE REAL TEST

In our third teacher-created PSAT practice test there are new and unique vocabulary terms you may have never heard of! Can you guess what they mean?

Question 1 of 10

seclusion

a false belief or opinion.

the matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid.

the state of being isolated, kept apart, or withdrawn into solitude.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of pigeonhole

First recorded in 1570–80; pigeon¹ + hole

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for pigeonhole

Then he reached over and brought down a letter from a pigeon-hole above his desk.
The Long Patrol|H. A. Cody
A big, bearded Landsturm man with a kind face was at the pigeon-hole.
The Man with the Clubfoot|Valentine Williams
I shan't waste time placing it; perhaps Carlton will find a pigeon-hole for it somewhere.
Letters of a Dakota Divorcee|Jane Burr
Do you pigeon-hole bills and money-lenders' circulars and second-hand booksellers' catalogues and all their wrappers?
Jaffery|William J. Locke

I could, from a pack of letters in one pigeon-hole, put to rout the whole theory.
Around The Tea-Table|T. De Witt Talmage

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

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pigeonhole

noun

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

SYNONYMS FOR pigeonhole

QUIZZES

THIS PSAT VOCABULARY QUIZ IS PERFECT PRACTICE FOR THE REAL TEST

Origin of pigeonhole

Example sentences from the Web for pigeonhole

British Dictionary definitions for pigeonhole

noun

verb (tr)

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

pigeonhole

noun

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

SYNONYMS FOR pigeonhole

QUIZZES

THIS PSAT VOCABULARY QUIZ IS PERFECT PRACTICE FOR THE REAL TEST

Origin of pigeonhole

Words related to pigeonhole

Example sentences from the Web for pigeonhole

British Dictionary definitions for pigeonhole

noun

verb (tr)