stereotypical

American

[ster-ee-uh-tip-i-kuhl, steer-] / ˌstɛr i əˈtɪp ɪ kəl, ˌstɪər- /

Also stereotypic

adjective

portraying a simplified and standardized conception or image, often one that is construed as derogatory.

She is frustrated by the shallow and stereotypical roles that she is offered as an Asian actor.
The stereotypical environmentalist is a white dude wearing sandals and tie-dye.

Other Word Forms

nonstereotypic adjective
nonstereotypical adjective

Etymology

Origin of stereotypical

stereotyp(e) ( def. ) + -ical ( def. )

Explanation

Stereotypical describes an action or a characterization that is oversimplified, widely imitated, or handed down by tradition. As in Aesop’s Fables, stereotypical characters behave predictably, or according to type, which, in Greek, literally means to strike in a mold or an impression. But most interesting people and stories do not easily fit into molds, and typecasts can be socially offensive. It might be stereotypical in a comedy skit to see police officers eating donuts, but when you get pulled over for missing a stop sign it’s best to keep that idea to yourself!

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing stereotypical

All American Boys

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This Week in Pop Culture: August 10–16, 2019

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Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Boy

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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.

Fruit is an absurd but also simple way to reflect the formulaic, sensationalist and stereotypical world of dating reality TV, Lupinacci said.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

He has retained the stereotypical Midwestern qualities of humility and consistency, fitting in well with veteran Phillies stars Bryce Harper, Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026

"Mums are not the stereotypical, do all the childcare, spend every second with your kids anymore. That's just not how lives work."

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

“The Mary Tyler Moore Show” casts Minneapolis as progressive and neighborly, a bustling metropolis located between stereotypical Midwestern patriarchal stubbornness and a feminist future.

From Salon • Jan. 31, 2026

Yeah, my mom and dad were those stereotypical teen parents.

From "On the Come Up" by Angie Thomas

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023