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stereotype

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A stereotype is a well-known idea or image of a person or idea that is held by a number of people. (noun)

An example of stereotype is that blonde-haired women are dumb.

Stereotype means to attach an idea or image to a person who belong to a particular group. (verb)

An example of stereotype is saying that a group of Italians are members of the mafia.

See stereotype in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

a one-piece printing plate cast in type metal from a mold (matrix) taken of a printing surface, as a page of set type
stereotypy
an unvarying form or pattern; specif., a fixed or conventional notion or conception, as of a person, group, idea, etc., held by a number of people, and allowing for no individuality, critical judgment, etc.

transitive verb stereotyped, stereotyping

to make a stereotype of
to print from stereotype plates

Related Forms:

stereotyper noun or stereotypist

See stereotype in American Heritage Dictionary 4

ster·e·o·type

noun

A conventional, formulaic, and oversimplified conception, opinion, or image.
One that is regarded as embodying or conforming to a set image or type.
Printing A metal printing plate cast from a matrix molded from a raised printing surface, such as type.

transitive verb stereotyped ster·e·o·typed, stereotyping ster·e·o·typ·ing, ster·e·o·types

To make a stereotype of.
To characterize by a stereotype: “Elderly Americans are the neglected sector of the fashion industry, stereotyped by blue hair and polyester pantsuits” (American Demographics).
To give a fixed, unvarying form to.
To print from a stereotype.

Origin: French stéréotype, stereotype printing : stéréo-, solid (from Greek stereo-; see stereo- ) + type, printing type (from Old French, symbol, from Late Latin typus; see type ).