stereotype

[ ster-ee-uh-tahyp, steer- ]

noun

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.

verb (used with object)

stereotyped, stereotyping.

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

/ ˌstɛrɪə ˈtɪpɪk; ˌstɪər-; ˈstɛrɪəˌtaɪp; 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

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

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.”

stereotype

²

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

Derived Forms

• ˈstereoˌtyper, noun
• stereotypic, adjective

Other Words From

• ster·e·o·typ·er ster·e·o·typ·ist noun
• ster·e·o·typ·i·cal ster·e·o·typ·ic [ster-ee-, uh, -, tip, -ik, steer-], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of stereotype¹

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

Example Sentences

GOP pundits found it easy to tar Obama with a sexist stereotype of the joy-kill mom telling kids to eat their vegetables.

From Salon

She spends her days in a swirl of energetic motion, defying stereotypes of cold, bullying guards.

From Los Angeles Times

But it shows that the stereotype of the bubbleheaded housewife whose husband gives her an allowance has no relationship to most women's realities.

From Salon

The show squanders its premise by defaulting to the oldest stereotype in the book – that people would rather coast on government support than achieve stability through meaningful work.

From Salon

In his closing remarks, Mr Gibbs said Slowthai "wasn't everybody's stereotype of a rapper", adding he was a "thoughtful" and "modest" man who "throws himself, sometimes recklessly, into life".

From BBC

Related Words

• pattern