Meaning & use
pigeonhole
Last updated
To categorize someone or something too rigidly or unfairly, often based on one narrow trait.
See it in a sentence
Critics tried to pigeonhole the band as just another pop group, ignoring their range.
She hated being pigeonholed as "the funny one" among her siblings.
A note on using this word
Originates from the small compartments once used to sort mail or papers, which is why the word implies forcing something into a narrow, fixed category.
Words with a similar meaning
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Another way to use it
2. noun
A small compartment, especially one of a set used for sorting mail or documents.
He checked his pigeonhole in the staff room for new memos.
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