stereotype

Universal Words noun, verb noun a fixed idea or image that many people have of a particular type of person or thing, but which is often not true in reality: cultural / gender / racial stereotypes * He doesn't conform to the usual stereotype of the businessman with a dark suit and briefcase. stereotypical adjective: the stereotypical image of feminine behaviour verb [VN] [oftenpassive] ~ sb (as sth) to form a fixed idea about a person or thing which may not really be true: Children from certain backgrounds tend to be stereotyped by their teachers. * Why are professors stereotyped as absent-minded? stereotyped adjective: a play full of stereotyped characters stereotyping noun [U]: sexual stereotyping