Meaning & use
Pigeonholing
Last updated
Assigning someone or something to a fixed, often oversimplified category without considering individual complexity.
See it in a sentence
Critics accused the director of pigeonholing actors into the same type of role.
She resented being pigeonholed as 'just a copywriter' when she had broader design skills.
A note on using this word
The term comes from the small compartments, or 'pigeonholes,' once used in writing desks to sort letters and documents.
Words with a similar meaning
stereotypingcategorizing
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Pigeonholing”, then compare your use with the examples above.
Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.