typecast
typecast Lexical Profile
typecast Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To repeatedly assign (an actor or performer) to the same kind of role as a result of the appropriateness of their appearance or previous success in such roles.
"Hollywood directors often typecast him as a villain because of his deep voice and stern expression."
To categorize or represent (a person or group) in a rigid, oversimplified, or stereotypical way.
"She refused to let her colleagues typecast her as solely a technical specialist when she also excelled at client relations."
To cast (printing type) in a mold.
"Before digital typesetting, skilled workers had to typecast each line of text in molten metal."
• adjective
Repeatedly assigned to the same type of role or stereotyped into a narrow category.
"The veteran actor took on an experimental stage play to break free from his typecast image."
Word Nuance & Usage
The irregular past tense and past participle of the verb is "typecast", not "typecasted" (which is generally considered nonstandard).
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the early 20th century as a compound of "type" and "cast", originally used in the printing trade for casting metal type before being adopted in theater and film in the 1920s.