stereotype
Americannoun
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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.
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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.
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Printing.
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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.
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a plate made by this process.
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verb (used with object)
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to characterize or regard as a stereotype.
The actor has been stereotyped as a villain.
- Synonyms:
- typecast, label, categorize
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to give a fixed form to.
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Printing. to make a stereotype of.
noun
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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
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the plate so made
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another word for stereotypy
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an idea, trait, convention, etc, that has grown stale through fixed usage
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sociol a set of inaccurate, simplistic generalizations about a group that allows others to categorize them and treat them accordingly
verb
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to make a stereotype of
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to print from a stereotype
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to impart a fixed usage or convention to
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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stereotypesimple
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stereotypessimple
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have stereotypedperfect
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has stereotypedperfect
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am stereotypingprogressive
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are stereotypingprogressive
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is stereotypingprogressive
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have been stereotypingperfect progressive
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has been stereotypingperfect progressive
Past
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stereotypedsimple
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had stereotypedperfect
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was stereotypingprogressive
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were stereotypingprogressive
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had been stereotypingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of stereotype
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.
Vocabulary lists containing stereotype
TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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A Raisin in the Sun
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Achievement First 6th Grade IA 1 Words
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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.
See Examples For:
Twenty-five years after “Legally Blonde” introduced Elle Woods to the world, she’s raised several generations of women and redeemed a terrible stereotype long cemented into American popular culture.
From Salon ● Jul. 6, 2026
She also says society needs to ditch the stereotype that adult children who still live at home have "failed to launch".
From BBC ● Jun. 25, 2026
The roughly 3,000-person community belies South Dakota’s flat-plains stereotype, feeling closer to a western ski village than a Midwestern farm town.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026
The findings build on Levy’s stereotype embodiment theory.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 21, 2026
But I’m not gonna stereotype the whole white race just for a few bigots.
From "Our America: Life and Death on the South Side of Chicago" by LeAlan Jones
An actress and documentary filmmaker, Siebel Newsom founded her production company to develop independent films with a focus on combating gender stereotypes and empowering girls and women.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 25, 2026
Meet the millennial fathers who are bucking traditional stereotypes, splitting the chores, and redefining what it means to lead a modern conservative family.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 21, 2026
The theory proposes that age-related stereotypes absorbed from society through sources such as social media and advertising can eventually become personally meaningful and have measurable biological effects.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 21, 2026
Advocates and researchers say this practice perpetuates negative stereotypes and harms the lives and business of real people.
From Barron's ● Jun. 18, 2026
Social pressures, stereotypes, and changing attitudes and perspectives can inhibit inclusion and lead to exclusionary practice.
From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin
Conscientious employees are often stereotyped as disgruntled, mentally ill or troublemakers who are out for fame, profit or revenge.
From Salon ● Jul. 17, 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
Nicola also said she feels stereotyped when people show an interest in her.
From BBC ● Nov. 13, 2024
POTENTE: It’s comparable to, in my mind, what a musician’s life might be like, like a rock star or a stereotyped idea of what that would be like.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 4, 2024
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
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
The triumphs of the civil-rights movement made many overt forms of anti-Jewish discrimination illegal, but laws could not eliminate bigotry and stereotyping.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2025
"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
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
