pigeonholing
Definition
- Noun:
- A system for classifying things into groups: The act or process of categorizing people, ideas, or things, often into overly rigid, simplistic, or limiting groups.
Usage
The noun "pigeonholing" refers to the systematic practice of assigning items to fixed categories. It often carries a negative connotation, implying that the classification is too restrictive, fails to capture complexity, or unfairly limits possibilities.
Examples
- Noun:
- The manager's constant pigeonholing of employees based on their first project stifled creativity.
- We need to avoid the pigeonholing of complex social issues into simple "good" or "bad" categories.
- The artist resisted pigeonholing by constantly experimenting with new styles.
Advanced Usage
"to be guilty of pigeonholing": to be responsible for applying an overly simplistic classification.
- The critic was guilty of pigeonholing all modern novels as either literary or commercial.
"to resist/avoid pigeonholing": to actively work against being placed into a single, fixed category.
- The band's eclectic sound helped them avoid pigeonholing by the music industry.
Variants and Related Words
Pigeonhole (verb): To assign to a particular category, typically in a rigid manner.
- It's easy to pigeonhole him as a conservative thinker, but his views are more nuanced.
Pigeonhole (noun): A small compartment for storing papers; metaphorically, a restrictive category.
- (Literal) She found the letter in the third pigeonhole of her desk.
- (Metaphorical) He felt trapped in the pigeonhole of being the "funny guy" and wanted more serious roles.
Synonyms
- Categorization: The action of placing into categories (more neutral).
- Stereotyping: Classifying according to an oversimplified standard image or idea (more negative).
- Compartmentalization: Dividing into separate sections or categories.
Antonyms
- Individualizing: Treating or considering individually.
- Integrating: Combining into a whole.
Noun
-
a system for classifying things into groups
Khám phá thêm
Các từ liên quan
Từ đồng nghĩa
