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View synonyms for pigeonhole

pigeonhole

[ pij-uhn-hohl ]

noun

  1. one of a series of small, open compartments, as in a desk, cabinet, or the like, used for filing or sorting papers, letters, etc.
  2. a hole or recess, or one of a series of recesses, for pigeons to nest in.
  3. Also called pigeon hole, Printing. white space created by setting words or lines too far apart.


verb (used with object)

, pi·geon·holed, pi·geon·hol·ing.
  1. to assign to a definite place or to definite places in some orderly system:

    to pigeonhole new ideas.

    Synonyms: catalog, categorize

  2. to lay aside for use or reference at some later, indefinite time:

    We must pigeonhole this excellent plan until the time is ripe.

    Synonyms: file

  3. to put aside for the present, especially with the intention of ignoring or forgetting, often indefinitely:

    to pigeonhole an unwanted invitation.

    Synonyms: shelve, postpone

  4. to place in or as if in a pigeonhole or pigeonholes:

    to pigeonhole papers.

  5. to fit or provide with pigeonholes:

    The desk must be pigeonholed for all my papers.

pigeonhole

/ ˈpɪdʒɪnˌhəʊl /

noun

  1. a small compartment for papers, letters, etc, as in a bureau
  2. a hole or recess in a dovecote for pigeons to nest in
  3. informal.
    a category or classification
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


verb

  1. to put aside or defer
  2. to classify or categorize, esp in a rigid manner
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Word History and Origins

Origin of pigeonhole1

First recorded in 1570–80; pigeon 1 + hole
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Example Sentences

As noted by Emma Sona, the pigeonhole principle dictated that having a fifth cut meant that one of the four corners would have two cuts.

Did you every feel like Hollywood was trying to pigeonhole you as the token “hot” woman?

In high school especially, kids often pigeonhole each other to make themselves feel better about their own differences.

In any trial, he would be hard to pigeonhole and harder to control.

Kitty ran into Crozier's room, thrust the letter into its pigeonhole in the desk, and in a moment was back again.

“I see,” said Loris, reaching into a pigeonhole and drawing out a small yellow check-book.

She tied it up, so to speak, in a neat package and put it in a pigeonhole.

The Lone Ranger reasoned that the object, whatever it was, had been in the last disordered pigeonhole.

Each classified group is metaphorically a pigeonhole to contain similar material.

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