stereotype

B2
US /ˈstɛɹ.i.əˌtaɪp/ UK /ˈstɛ.ɹi.əˌtaɪp/
noun verb adj Freq #19734

Meanings

  1. 1
    noun

    a conventional or formulaic conception or image

    regional stereotypes have been part of America since its founding

  2. 2
    verb

    treat or classify according to a mental stereotype

    I was stereotyped as a lazy Southern European

  3. 3
    noun

    A conventional, formulaic, and often oversimplified or exaggerated conception, opinion, or image of (a person or a group of people).

    Not all Zumbetonians wear plimsolls. That's just a stereotype.

  4. 4
    verb

    To make a stereotype of someone or something, or characterize someone by a stereotype.

    Unable to ascertain what is in the minds of so many individuals, he must try to simplify his problems by eliminating individual differences: he must try to control and stereotype interests and beliefs by education and propaganda.

  5. 5
    verb

    To prepare for printing in stereotype; to produce stereotype plates of.

    to stereotype the Bible

  6. 6
    verb

    To make firm or permanent; to fix.

    Powerful causes tending to stereotype and aggravate the poverty of old conditions.

  7. 7
    adj

    Of an edition: printed in stereotype.

    At the present Epoch (1800), the art of Printing is become rather retrograde; or we should not hear so much of Stereotype editions. Surely the use and very principle of the invention of Printing, is to have the types moveable!

  8. 8
    adj

    Synonym of stereotyped.

    It is an ingenious expression which I owe to you, sir, that the manners of the East are as it were stereotype. Ahhough I do not conceive that they are quite so strongly marked, yet, to make my idea understood, I would say that they are like the last impressions taken from a copper-plate engraving, where the whole of the subject to be represented is made out, although parts of it from much use have been obliterated.

Etymology

Borrowed from French stéréotype (adjective), equivalent to stereo- + type. Printing sense is from 1817; the “conventional, formulaic, and oversimplified conception, opinion, or image” sense is recorded from 1922 in Walter Lippmann’s book Public Opinion.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
2 verb · treat or classify according... pigeonhole
8 adj · synonym of stereotyped. stereotyped
Word family
Derived forms counterstereotypecybertypemetastereotypestereotypablestereotyperstereotypicstereotypicalstereotypiststereotypographer
Related forms stereotypographystereotypy

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