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to stereotype

to stereotype

11 4.8
To treat someone as if a simple, fixed idea about their group is true
  • verb
  • /ˈstɛr.i.ə.taɪp/
translation icon : estereotipar
  • Yeah, Claire, don't stereotype the high school athlete.
  • stereotype others

You're doing the very same thing that you think is wrong, you're stereotyping.

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Examples

  • Some children are being brought up with the same cultural beliefs that stereotype boys' and girls' gender roles.

    Academic text (1998)
  • Yes, we all must be careful not to stereotype any generation or any "diversity" group.

    Blog text (1)
  • Why do people stereotype us all the time?

  • Let's not stereotype each other.

  • Why did I expect Black people to act differently, to not stereotype others?

    Fiction book (1996)
  • Maybe it is unfair to stereotype at all, even in what many would consider a positive way.

    Blog text (32)
  • Don't stereotype him.

  • We should not stereotype each other based on our backgrounds.

  • It's unfair to stereotype people without knowing their individual stories.

  • The teacher reminded us not to stereotype students by their appearances.

Synonyms

to categorize
vsto stereotype
  • US
59 3.5

To put things or people into groups by what they have in common

assumes fixed traits and treats people unfairly because of them
to stamp
vsto stereotype
14 4.4

To give someone a simple label or description that may not fit

is more fixed and unfair, treating people by that one label
to pigeonhole
vsto stereotype
4 7.6

To put someone into a narrow category that limits how others see them

is the fixed unfair idea causing treatment based on that judgement
to typecast
vsto stereotype
3 6.8

Treat someone as one kind of person because of their looks or past roles

is a general unfair fixed judgement not limited to roles or looks

Phrasal Verbs

To say that a common simple idea about a group is wrong

Compounds

5 5.8

A simple, harmful idea about a group of people

A simple idea many people have about people from one country or culture, often not true

8.6

A common unfair idea of an attractive woman who seems shallow and not smart

A negative idea about Eastern European workers as unskilled or rough

9.9

A man who does housework that people often think is for women

A negative belief that immigrants commit crimes, often spread by the media or politicians

A negative idea that women who play games are socially awkward online

harmful stereotype
  • Offensive
4.6

An unfair, simple idea about a group of people that can hurt them

9.9

A harmful false idea that people who get government help are lazy or dishonest

How Stereotypical

to demonize
  • Literature
77 7.1
to stereotype
11 4.8
to generalize
  • US
41 4.2
label
187 1.0

Surface Forms

stereotype infinitive
stereotyped past participle
stereotyping present participle
stereotypes third person singular

Etymology

Stereotype as a verb comes from the same printing idea, with Greek stereos 'solid' and type 'model' — a plate that makes one 'copy' many times. That's why to stereotype someone is to treat them like a simple, repeated picture instead of seeing who they really are.