Dictionary
1pigeonhole
noun pi·geon·hole \ˈpi-jən-ˌhōl\
: a small open space in a desk, cabinet, or wall for keeping letters or papers
—used to say that someone or something is being unfairly thought of or described as belonging to a particular group, having only a particular skill, etc.
Full Definition of PIGEONHOLE
1
: a hole or small recess for pigeons to nest
2
: a small open compartment (as in a desk or cabinet) for keeping letters or documents
3
: a neat category which usually fails to reflect actual complexities
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First Known Use of PIGEONHOLE
1577
Rhymes with PIGEONHOLE
aureole, banderole, bannerol, barcarole, barrel roll, buttonhole, cabriole, camisole, capriole, caracole, carmagnole, coffee roll, croquignole, cubbyhole, decontrol, Demerol, Dover sole, escarole, exit poll, farandole, finger hole, fumarole, girandole, girasole, Grand Guignol, honor roll, innersole, in the hole, Jackson Hole, jelly roll, kaiser roll, lemon sole, meadow vole, methanol, micromole, millimole, monopole, muster roll, on a roll, on the whole, oriole, ostiole, oversoul, ozone hole, petiole, pick-and-roll, protocol, rabbit hole, rigmarole, rock and roll, Seminole, totem pole, tracheole, vacuole, water hole
2pigeonhole
verb
: to unfairly think of or describe (someone or something) as belonging to a particular group, having only a particular skill, etc.
Full Definition of PIGEONHOLE
transitive verb
1
a : to place in or as if in the pigeonhole of a desk b : to lay aside : shelve <his reports continued to be pigeonholed and his advice not taken — Walter Mills>
See pigeonhole defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of PIGEONHOLE
1840
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