stereotype

verb

ste·​reo·​type ˈster-ē-ə-ˌtīp  ˈstir- 

stereotyped; stereotyping; stereotypes

transitive verb

1

: to make a stereotype from

2

a

: to repeat without variation : make hackneyed

b

: to develop a mental stereotype about

stereotyper noun

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What is the Difference Between cliché and stereotype?

The words cliché and stereotype have a good deal in common. Both come from French, both were originally printers’ terms, and both have come to take on somewhat negative meanings in modern use.

Their original meanings are essentially synonymous, referring to printing blocks from which numerous prints could be made. In fact, cliché means stereotype in French. Their modern meanings, however, are quite distinct. Cliché is today overwhelmingly encountered in reference to something hackneyed, such as an overly familiar or commonplace phrase, theme, or expression. Stereotype is most frequently now employed to refer to an often unfair and untrue belief that many people have about all people or things with a particular characteristic.

Synonyms of stereotype

• overuse
• vulgarize
• bore
• popularize
• exhaust
• overexpose

Examples of stereotype in a Sentence

It's not fair to stereotype a whole group of people based on one person you don't like.

Movies have stereotyped the domineering mother-in-law ad nauseam.

Recent Examples on the Web

In their scenes together, Ahmed plays straight man so Khan can go huge, all breezy confidence and street smarts combined as a defense against the countless stereotypes the bearded, accented, proudly Muslim Zulfi must face every day. —Joe Reid, Vulture, 29 May 2026

When younger generations don’t have interactions or relationships with older adults having vibrant lives, later chapters of life can be stereotyped as a time of pain, difficulty and loss, Emery-Tiburcio said. —Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 23 May 2026

At a time when younger workers are often stereotyped as quick to abandon jobs that feel difficult or unrewarding, Dimon said discomfort is part of the process. —Preston Fore, Fortune, 19 May 2026

In crime coverage, journalists should create equity by being cognizant of correcting any coverage trends that privilege white groups over people of color, especially stereotyping Black and Latino men as violent. —Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1804, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for stereotype

• allotype
• antitype
• archetype
• biotype
• collotype
• genotype
• haplotype
• holotype
• hypotype
• isotype
• lectotype
• linotype

Kids Definition

stereotype

1 of 2 noun

ste·​reo·​type ˈster-ē-ə-ˌtīp 

ˈstir-

1

: a printing plate made by casting melted metal in a mold

2

: something agreeing with a pattern

especially : an idea that many people have about a thing or a group and that may often be untrue or only partly true

stereotype

2 of 2 verb

1

: to make a stereotype from

2

: to develop a mental stereotype about

unfairly stereotyped salesmen as dishonest

Medical Definition

stereotype

noun

ste·​reo·​type ˈster-ē-ə-ˌtīp  ˈstir- 

: something conforming to a fixed or general pattern

especially : an often oversimplified or biased mental picture held to characterize the typical individual of a group

stereotype transitive verb

stereotyped; stereotyping