pigeonhole

[ pij-uhn-hohl ]

noun

1. one of a series of small, open compartments, as in a desk, cabinet, or the like, used for filing or sorting papers, letters, etc.
2. a hole or recess, or one of a series of recesses, for pigeons to nest in.
3. Also called pigeon hole, Printing. white space created by setting words or lines too far apart.

verb (used with object)

, pi·geon·holed, pi·geon·hol·ing.

1. to assign to a definite place or to definite places in some orderly system:

   to pigeonhole new ideas.

   Synonyms: catalog, categorize

2. to lay aside for use or reference at some later, indefinite time:

   We must pigeonhole this excellent plan until the time is ripe.

   Synonyms: file

3. to put aside for the present, especially with the intention of ignoring or forgetting, often indefinitely:

   to pigeonhole an unwanted invitation.

   Synonyms: shelve, postpone

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

   to pigeonhole papers.

5. to fit or provide with pigeonholes:

   The desk must be pigeonholed for all my papers.

pigeonhole

/ ˈpɪdʒɪnˌhəʊl /

noun

1. a small compartment for papers, letters, etc, as in a bureau
2. a hole or recess in a dovecote for pigeons to nest in
3. informal.
   a category or classification

verb

1. to put aside or defer
2. to classify or categorize, esp in a rigid manner

Word History and Origins

Origin of pigeonhole¹

First recorded in 1570–80; pigeon ¹ + hole

Example Sentences

As noted by Emma Sona, the pigeonhole principle dictated that having a fifth cut meant that one of the four corners would have two cuts.

From FiveThirtyEight

Did you every feel like Hollywood was trying to pigeonhole you as the token “hot” woman?

From The Daily Beast

In high school especially, kids often pigeonhole each other to make themselves feel better about their own differences.

From The Daily Beast

In any trial, he would be hard to pigeonhole and harder to control.

From The Daily Beast

Kitty ran into Crozier's room, thrust the letter into its pigeonhole in the desk, and in a moment was back again.

From Project Gutenberg

“I see,” said Loris, reaching into a pigeonhole and drawing out a small yellow check-book.

From Project Gutenberg

She tied it up, so to speak, in a neat package and put it in a pigeonhole.

From Project Gutenberg

The Lone Ranger reasoned that the object, whatever it was, had been in the last disordered pigeonhole.

From Project Gutenberg

Each classified group is metaphorically a pigeonhole to contain similar material.

From Project Gutenberg