Question

What does stereotypes mean?

Answer 1

Definition:

Stereotypes are ideas we have from countries, nationalities, people, etc. that are widely shared by people, due to the spreading of them. When something is a stereotype, we call it stereotypical.

Etymology:

The word comes from the French adjective stéréotype. "Stereo-" means "fixed" or "unchangable" and "-type" means "impression" (in this case do not refer to a physical impression, rather a mental impression) and also typical. So, "fixed/unchangable" + "impression" = a fixed and typical impression of a specific person or group of people.

Hope it helped,

BioTeacher101

Answer 2

a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing.