stereotypical
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of stereotypical
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!
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.
Indeed, it seems more than possible that the stereotypical Canadian “niceness” is a consequence of living next door to an armed and dangerous neighbor.
From Salon ● Aug. 31, 2026
The British actor, who debuted in Game of Thrones aged 11 and uses they/them pronouns, says they had consciously decided not to behave like a stereotypical teenager after hearing criticisms from adults.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
Not only were the images ageist and stereotypical, but they also got a key fact about entrepreneurship wrong: Older business creators are more successful than younger ones, research shows.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 1, 2026
The gender split also defies the stereotypical image of the young male gamer.
From Barron's ● Jun. 7, 2026
“And it’s not about stereotypical girl topics written in sappy, cliché ways.”
From "Watch Us Rise" by Renée Watson and Ellen Hagan
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.
