Pigeonholed: meaning, definitions and examples
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pigeonholed
[ ˈpɪdʒənˌhoʊld ]
labeling someone
To pigeonhole someone means to categorize or label them in a restrictive way, limiting the perception of their abilities or potential. It often carries a negative connotation, suggesting an unfair or overly simplistic classification.
Synonyms
categorize, classify, label, stereotype
Examples of usage
- She felt pigeonholed by her colleagues as just a secretary.
- The artist was pigeonholed into creating the same type of work.
- Don't pigeonhole him based on his past mistakes.
Translations
Translations of the word "pigeonholed" in other languages:
🇵🇹 encostado
🇮🇳 पैजामे में
🇩🇪 in eine Schublade gesteckt
🇮🇩 dimasukkan dalam kategori
🇺🇦 записаний в категорію
🇵🇱 włożony do szuflady
🇯🇵 分類された
🇫🇷 mis dans une case
🇪🇸 encasillado
🇹🇷 sınıflandırılmış
🇰🇷 분류된
🇸🇦 مصنف
🇨🇿 zařazený
🇸🇰 zaradený
🇨🇳 被归类
🇸🇮 razvrščen
🇮🇸 flokkuð
🇰🇿 белгілі бір санатқа жатқызылған
🇬🇪 კატეგორიაში გაწვდილი
🇦🇿 kateqoriyaya daxil edilmiş
🇲🇽 encasillado
Etymology
The term 'pigeonhole' originates from the literal design of pigeonholes in furniture, particularly in desks, where small compartments are created to hold letters or documents. Each compartment resembles a small cavity that can hold one pigeon, and this forms the basis of the metaphor. The use of 'pigeonhole' in a figurative sense to refer to categorizing someone or something dates back to the early 20th century. It suggests an oversimplification of complex individuals into narrow categories, similar to how letters are sorted into small compartments. The negative implications emphasize the danger of overlooking a person's broader capabilities by confining them to a limited role.