pigeonhole

Plural: pigeonholes

Noun

• a specific (often simplistic) category
• a small compartment
• One of an array of open compartments for housing pigeons in a dovecote or pigeon loft.
• A hole or opening in a door or wall for a pigeon to pass through.
• One of an array of open compartments in a desk, set of shelves, etc., used for sorting and/or storing letters, papers, or other items.
• One of an array of open compartments in a desk, set of shelves, etc., used for sorting and/or storing letters, papers, or other items.
• One of an array of open compartments for receiving mail and other messages at a college, office, etc.
• A compartment or cubicle in a room or other place, especially one which is (excessively) small.
• A small opening for looking or passing things through.
• A small opening for looking or passing things through.
• An opening in a ship for passing equipment such as an oar or rigging through.
• A form of stocks with openings for restraining a person's hands or feet; also, one of the openings in the device.
• A seat in the top row of the gallery of a theatre.
• A notional category or class into which someone or something is placed.
• A space between two words that is too wide.

Verb

• place into a small compartment
• treat or classify according to a mental stereotype
• To construct pigeonholes (noun sense 1 or sense 3.1) in (a place); also, to subdivide (a place) into pigeonholes.
• To put (letters, papers, or other items) into pigeonholes or small compartments; also, to arrange or sort (items) by putting into pigeonholes.
• To arrange (items) for future reference or use.
• To put aside (advice, a proposal, or other matter) for future consideration instead of acting on it immediately; to shelve.
• To place (someone or something) into a notional category or class, especially in a way which makes unjustified assumptions or which is restrictive; to categorize, to classify, to label.

Examples

• Fred was disappointed to find his pigeonhole empty except for bills and a flyer offering 20% off on manicures.
• Fred was tired of being pigeonholed as a computer geek.

Synonyms

cubbyhole, stamp, stereotype, box, mothball, put someone in a box, table