stereotype

American  

[ster-ee-uh-tahyp, steer-] / ˈstɛr i əˌtaɪp, ˈstɪər- /

noun

• stereotypes
  plural

1. 

   a simplified and standardized conception or image invested with special meaning and held in common by members of a group.

   Cowboys and Indians are American stereotypes.

2. a set form; convention.

   Most important for lexicographers are the idiomatic stereotypes whose meaning cannot be inferred from knowledge of the meanings of the individual items.

3. Printing.

   1. a process, now often replaced by more advanced methods, for making metal printing plates by taking a mold of composed type or the like in papier-mâché or other material and then taking from this mold a cast in type metal.

   2. a plate made by this process.

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verb (used with object)

• stereotypes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• stereotyped,
  past participle,  past
• stereotyping
  present participle

1. to characterize or regard as a stereotype.

   The actor has been stereotyped as a villain.

   Synonyms:

   typecast, label, categorize

2. to give a fixed form to.

3. Printing. to make a stereotype of.

stereotype British  

/ ˈstɛrɪəˌtaɪp, ˌstɪər-, ˈstɪər- /

noun

1. 1. a method of producing cast-metal printing plates from a mould made from a forme of type matter in papier-mâché or some other material

   2. the plate so made

2. another word for stereotypy

3. an idea, trait, convention, etc, that has grown stale through fixed usage

4. sociol a set of inaccurate, simplistic generalizations about a group that allows others to categorize them and treat them accordingly

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verb

1. 1. to make a stereotype of

   2. to print from a stereotype

2. to impart a fixed usage or convention to

stereotype ¹ Cultural  

1. A too-simple and therefore distorted image of a group, such as “Football players are stupid” or “The English are cold and unfriendly people.”

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stereotype ² Cultural  

1. A generalization, usually exaggerated or oversimplified and often offensive, that is used to describe or distinguish a group.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• stereotyper
  noun
• stereotypist
  noun
• stereotypic
  adjective
• stereotypical
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• stereotypes
  plural

Participles

• stereotyping
  present
• stereotyped
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• stereotype
  simple
• stereotypes
  simple
• have stereotyped
  perfect
• has stereotyped
  perfect
• am stereotyping
  progressive
• are stereotyping
  progressive
• is stereotyping
  progressive
• have been stereotyping
  perfect progressive
• has been stereotyping
  perfect progressive

Past

• stereotyped
  simple
• had stereotyped
  perfect
• was stereotyping
  progressive
• were stereotyping
  progressive
• had been stereotyping
  perfect progressive

Future

• will stereotype
  simple
• will have stereotyped
  perfect
• will be stereotyping
  progressive
• will have been stereotyping
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of stereotype

First recorded in 1790–1800; stereo- + -type

Explanation

A stereotype is a preconceived notion, especially about a group of people. Many stereotypes are rooted in prejudice — so you should be wary of them. You have probably heard stereotypes: commonly held ideas or preconceptions about specific groups. You most often hear about negative stereotypes, but some are positive — the stereotype that tall people are good at basketball, for example. One of many problems with any stereotype is that even if it's true in some cases, it's certainly not true in all cases.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

stereotype stereotypes stereotyped stereotyping

The whole Viking bit, which might otherwise have been dismissed as a stereotype, instead became the team’s identity, right down to the runic-style characters on the Norwegian jerseys.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026

Everyone knows the outdated and offensive characterization of a cat lady — a stereotype conjuring images of solitude, eccentricities and probably cartons of ice cream.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026

Hipsters war have now been usurped by a new stereotype: the tech bro.

From Slate ● Sep. 6, 2026

With the market for video games now expanded well beyond the stereotype of adolescent boys, the team behind the new game says this time they are focusing on Lara as a strong character.

From Barron's ● Sep. 2, 2026

“Maybe we should just do the stereotype threat thing. We’ve got a solid argument there.”

From "Dear Martin" by Nic Stone

What’s it like being able to impart some of the truth about Iranian culture in ways that can dismantle stereotypes that have been fed to Americans or what we see on the news?

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

Whiteman also highlights the value of existing programmes such as "Primary Futures", which bring in volunteers from different professions into schools to "challenge stereotypes and raise aspirations".

From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2026

Gen Z women are "leading the charge in challenging gendered DIY stereotypes", according to a 2024 report by B&Q.

From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2026

Elsewhere representations of women cleave to gender stereotypes focusing on their roles in home and their clothing.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 23, 2026

Bobby had been brought up to believe that everyone should be treated according to his actions and his character, not according to stereotypes.

From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown

What the reporting revealed was a continuing debate over whether Gen Z is everything from coddled to unfairly stereotyped and how it will fare at work in the future.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026

Eating disorders are themselves understudied within the mental health field, where conditions like anorexia have incorrectly been stereotyped as only affecting teenage girls.

From Salon ● Apr. 6, 2025

"Wrestlers are stereotyped to be tall with a muscular build. This stereotype is changing; my height is my advantage," she said.

From BBC ● Mar. 6, 2025

But he also described how he uses it strategically, avoiding “things that are cringe” and anything that might risk getting him stereotyped as the Gen Z legislator.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 23, 2025

Let me describe this stereotyped situation: A crime wave is sweeping a city and citizens are clamoring for police action.

From "Native Son" by Richard Wright

For years, campuses taught students to recognize prejudice and the dangers of stereotyping minorities.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026

The researchers found that buying into these false beliefs increased gender stereotyping and was associated with reduced support for pay equity policies.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 26, 2026

"They're being failed due to early years stereotyping, inadequate opportunities and a complete dearth of knowledge about managing female puberty," she added.

From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2025

The stereotyping bothers her, but in school, “People actually found it really interesting and cool” that she had two dads.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 27, 2024

This stereotyping of guards was particularly interesting to me.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover

Related Words

• pattern