stereotype

ste·reo·type | \ ˈster-ē-ə-ˌtīp

How to pronounce stereotype (audio)

, ˈstir-\

stereotyped; stereotyping; stereotypes

Definition of stereotype

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to make a stereotype from

2a : to repeat without variation : make hackneyed

b : to develop a mental stereotype about

stereotype

Definition of stereotype (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : a plate cast from a printing surface

2 : something conforming to a fixed or general pattern especially : a standardized mental picture that is held in common by members of a group and that represents an oversimplified opinion, prejudiced attitude, or uncritical judgment

Other Words from stereotype Synonyms What is the Difference Between cliché and stereotype? Example Sentences Learn More about stereotype

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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.

Examples of stereotype in a Sentence

Verb It's not fair to stereotype a whole group of people based on one person you don't like. movies have stereotyped the hooker with a heart of gold ad nauseam Noun the stereotype of the absentminded professor the noble savage was a stereotype that appealed to 18th-century intellectuals, who viewed European civilization as decadent and corrupt

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb The bird’s name is attached to several Australian rules football clubs in the country, including the Collingwood Magpies, whose fans are often stereotyped as particularly belligerent. — BostonGlobe.com, "It’s springtime Down Under, and along with overexuberant local football fans, that means another annual menace on Australian streets: angry birds.," 17 Sep. 2019 And while other sections of The Times either ignored L.A.’s Mexican American community or stereotyped them. — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, "For over 137 years, no newspaper has covered Mexican food better than the L.A. Times," 17 Sep. 2019 Hiring more Latino creatives is a crucial first step to changing the narratives that have long excluded or stereotyped the community. — Stacy L. Smith, Time, "Hollywood Has the Power to Combat Damaging Stereotypes About Latinos. Here's Proof That It's Utterly Failing," 27 Aug. 2019 Historically, black women have been stereotyped, marginalized, or altogether missing in these narratives. — Anne Showalter, Smithsonian, "The Fierce Pride and Passion of Rhinestone Fashion," 9 Aug. 2019 Children with more exposure to people of other races are less likely to stereotype and more likely to seek out diverse experiences as adults. — Erica Frankenberg, The Conversation, "What school segregation looks like in the US today, in 4 charts," 19 July 2019 In classic musicals, Kaats says, people of color and the LGBTQ community were excluded or stereotyped. — Kathy Berdan, Twin Cities, "Classic musical ’42nd Street’ revamped for new audiences at the Ordway," 18 July 2019 Regulators will consider the perspective of the group being stereotyped when deciding whether an ad should be allowed. — Billy Perrigo, Time, "The U.K. Just Banned 'Harmful Gender Stereotypes' in Advertising," 14 June 2019 So why not watch a show that celebrates immigrants instead of stereotyping them? — Emily Bloch, Teen Vogue, "Skip Trump's Prime-Time Immigration Address With 7 These Other Things You Can Watch Instead," 8 Jan. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The commission found no probable cause to officer Shane Rivera’s February complaint accusing his fellow officers and the department of subjecting him to numerous anti-Mexican stereotypes and discrimination. — Cory Shaffer, cleveland.com, "Ohio Civil Rights Commission dismisses Euclid officer’s racial discrimination complaint after finding no probable cause," 13 Aug. 2019 Niche nurseries are destined to be small and ultimately fleeting, but Avent has proved those stereotypes wrong. — Adrian Higgins, Washington Post, "This collector-grower built an Eden of rare plants. Now he tackles the challenge to preserve it.," 17 Sep. 2019 If a foreign terrorist had done in Dayton or El Paso or Las Vegas what American citizens did, there would be no shortage of outrage and dire pronouncements, hastily passed legislation, mindless stereotypes reissued and gobs of money thrown. — Paul Daugherty, Cincinnati.com, "Doc's Morning Line: This is America. We should be better than this. Do something.," 5 Aug. 2019 One is a humorous ditty about ways to commit suicide, the other plays off an enduring racial stereotype; in today’s more sensitive times would they even get written? — Matthew J. Palm, orlandosentinel.com, "‘The Full Monty’: Fun can be enough | Review," 5 Aug. 2019 Exhibit proceeds will benefit The Jessi Combs Foundation, a new organization dedicated to educating, inspiring and empowering the next generation of female trailblazers and stereotype-breakers. — Aurelie Corinthios, PEOPLE.com, "Late Mythbusters Star and Race Car Driver Jessi Combs to Be Honored with Exhibit in Los Angeles," 17 Sep. 2019 The game played to millennial stereotypes: Mr. Monopoly is wearing headphones and carrying a coffee on the cover of the board game, all while snapping a selfie. — Alyssa Newcomb, NBC News, "Chick magnate? Hasbro debuts 'Ms. Monopoly' game, where women run the show," 10 Sep. 2019 Anti-immigrant stereotypes were shown to be a robust driver of this kind of behavioural intention. — Steven Gordon, Quartz Africa, "What research tells us is driving xenophobic attacks on African migrants in South Africa," 9 Sep. 2019 Others mock and stereotype its people, culture and institutions. — Peter Dawson, Houston Chronicle, "Houston, you have lots of problems: Here's what you really can't say in the Bayou City," 6 Sep. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'stereotype.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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More Definitions for stereotype

stereotype

verb

English Language Learners Definition of stereotype

(Entry 1 of 2)

: to believe unfairly that all people or things with a particular characteristic are the same

stereotype

noun

English Language Learners Definition of stereotype (Entry 2 of 2)

: an often unfair and untrue belief that many people have about all people or things with a particular characteristic

See the full definition for stereotype in the English Language Learners Dictionary

stereotype

ste·reo·type | \ ˈster-ē-ə-ˌtīp

, ˈstir-\

Kids Definition of stereotype

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

stereotype

ste·reo·type

stereotyped; stereotyping

Kids Definition of stereotype (Entry 2 of 2)

: to form a fixed and often untrue or only partly true idea about It's unfair to stereotype people according to where they live.

stereotype

ste·reo·type | \ ˈster-ē-ə-ˌtīp

, ˈstir-

\

Medical Definition of stereotype

: 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

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