pigeonhole
/ˈpɪdʒənˌhoʊl/
verb
- To place someone or something into a fixed category or type, often unfairly or without considering individual differences.
- Don't pigeonhole her as just a singer; she also writes and produces music.
- The media tends to pigeonhole young athletes as either stars or failures.
- He felt his boss tried to pigeonhole him into doing only administrative tasks.
- To put aside or delay dealing with something, such as a plan or proposal.
- They pigeonholed the project after the funding fell through.
- The committee decided to pigeonhole the proposal until next year's budget meeting.
- Her idea for a new recycling program was pigeonholed by the city council.
Synonyms
noun
- One of a set of small open boxes or compartments, often used for sorting mail, messages, or papers.
- She found the memo in her office pigeonhole near the front desk.
- The hotel had a row of wooden pigeonholes behind the reception counter for guest keys.
- He checked his pigeonhole every morning for any new assignments.
- A category or type that people or things are placed into, often in a limiting or oversimplified way.
- The actor refused to be put into a pigeonhole as just a comedy performer.
- The book doesn't fit neatly into any pigeonhole; it's part mystery, part romance.
- Teachers should avoid putting every student into a pigeonhole based on one test score.
Synonyms