stereotypical

adjective

ste·​reo·​typ·​i·​cal ˌster-ē-ə-ˈti-pi-kəl 

1

or less commonly stereotypic

ˌster-ē-ə-ˈti-pik 

: conforming to a fixed or general pattern or type especially when of an oversimplified or prejudiced nature : of, relating to, or constituting a stereotype

Charlie Stuart represents a new breed of motorcyclists who are erasing the stereotypical black-leather-jacket, tough-guy image that plagued motorcyclists since the violent Hollywood productions of the Fifties.

—Sue Browder

His book concedes that progress has been made in a sheerly numerical sense, but it argues that overall the black presence on television has been an endless recycling of a passel of injuriously stereotypical images.

—John McWhorter

2

or stereotypic : of, relating to, or marked by stereotypy

a

medical : characterized by frequent repetition of the same, typically purposeless movement, gesture, posture, or vocal sound or utterance

Other stereotypical behaviors such as hand flapping and chewing on clothing or objects may be connected to sensory processing problems or anxiety.

—Cori Urban

… periodic leg movements during sleep, commonly known as nocturnal myoclonus—rapid, stereotypic, and periodic flexion of the legs and feet associated with repeated awakenings throughout the night.

—Patricia N. Prinz et al.

b

veterinary medicine : characterized by abnormal repetitive behavior

Many animals cope with unstimulating or small environments through stereotypic behavior … such as pacing, bar biting …

—Laura Smith

stereotypically

ˌster-ē-ə-ˈti-pi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

She wanted her staff to work together and get along. So on a hot July night, Katharine Graham did a stereotypically female thing: She threw a party.

—Judith M. Havemann

Examples of stereotypical in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the case of a picture, choose a simple and minimalist frame to contrast the stereotypical tropes. —Maggie Gillette, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 May 2024

While the ride is considered a beloved classic, its history and storyline are steeped in extremely problematic and stereotypical racist tropes from the 1946 film Song of the South. —Natalia Senanayake, Peoplemag, 13 May 2024

However, among Americans with negative racial attitudes – which is a phrase used by scholars of public opinion to characterize respondents who hold prejudicial, stereotypical or racist views of people of color – support for DEI training was much lower. —Adam Eichen, The Conversation, 5 Apr. 2024

There’s other ways to make a tackle than to take on a block or to do it the basic way or stereotypical long way. —Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 7 May 2024

There was no real support to guide me about the fine line between being a goof in comedy and what's stereotypical and what's offensive now. —Jessica Wang, EW.com, 6 May 2024

That may go unnoticed by most American viewers, but the presence of drugs, human trafficking, and plenty of stereotypical Latino bad hombres will be recognizable to them, based on other projects set in this region. —Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 12 Apr. 2024

As a Black woman reclaiming country music, Beyoncé stands in opposition to stereotypical associations of the genre with White artists. —Lucia Suarez Sang, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2024

Consider the stereotypical woman loaded up with shopping bags, and consider the stereotypical man rolling his eyes at the credit-card bill. —Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 4 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1846, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

stereotypical

adjective

ste·​reo·​typ·​i·​cal ˌster-ē-ə-ˈtip-i-kəl 

variants or stereotypic

-ik 

: of, relating to, or marked by stereotypy:

a

: characterized by frequent repetition of the same, typically purposeless movement, gesture, posture, or vocal sound or utterance

Other stereotypical behaviors such as hand flapping and chewing on clothing or objects may be connected to sensory processing problems or anxiety.

—Cori Urban

… periodic leg movements during sleep, commonly known as nocturnal myoclonus—rapid, stereotypic, and periodic flexion of the legs and feet associated with repeated awakenings throughout the night.

—Patricia N. Prinz et al.

b

veterinary medicine : characterized by abnormal repetitive behavior

Many animals cope with unstimulating or small environments through stereotypic behavior … such as pacing, bar biting, and Gus' figure-eight swimming.

—Laura Smith

stereotypically

ˌster-ē-ə-ˈtip-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb