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stereotype

STEH-ree-oh-type /ˈstɛriətaɪp/

nounverbB2TOEFLIELTSSAT

sociologymediageneral

A widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing.

Stereotypes can be 'positive' (e.g., 'all members of group X are good at math'), but they are still harmful because they deny individual agency.

The story behind the word. Before it was a social term, a stereotype was a metal plate used in printing to make identical copies of a page. Just as the metal plate produces the same image over and over without variation, a mental stereotype produces the same fixed idea of a group without seeing individual differences.

Word relationships

cliché: A cliché is an overused expression or idea; a stereotype is a cliché specifically applied to a group of people.

nuance: A subtle difference in or shade of meaning, expression, or sound.

Commonly confused with

archetype: An archetype is a universal symbol or 'perfect example'; a stereotype is a shallow, often harmful generalization.

Word family

stereotypical (adjective): Relating to or conforming to a stereotype.
stereotyped (adjective): Fixed or settled in form.

Collocations

gender stereotype
break the stereotype
cultural stereotype
negative stereotype

Example sentences

"Stereotypes are devices for saving a person the trouble of learning." Media Analysis
"The film was criticized for relying on lazy stereotypes of small-town life." Education

Memory hook

A 'stereo' plays the same sound for everyone; a 'stereotype' applies the same image to everyone. The printing press making identical copies.

When not to use

Don't use 'stereotype' for a unique, individual observation; it must be a generalized belief about a whole group.

Fun facts

The term was first used in its psychological sense by journalist Walter Lippmann in 1922.