1. small compartments or slots, typically in a desk or cabinet, used for sorting and storing papers or letters
2. restrictive categories or classifications that oversimplify or limit understanding of people or things
Usage: figurative

1. to categorize or classify someone or something in a restrictive or oversimplified way
2. to put aside or delay dealing with something

Examples

• The old desk had dozens of small pigeonholes for organizing correspondence.
• She sorted the mail into the various pigeonholes behind the counter.
• Don’t let society pigeonhole you based on your appearance.
• The teacher refuses to pigeonhole students as either smart or slow.
• He pigeonholes every proposal that seems too expensive.
• The committee pigeonholes controversial issues until after the election.
• People often escape the pigeonholes others try to put them in.