A stereotype is a common belief about a group of peoples that people might try to say applies to each individual person of that group. For example: in Vancouver, many people will say that Chinese people are bad drivers. This is a stereotype. Clearly, not all Chinese people are bad drivers and we have no evidence to say that as a group, they are worse than anybody else. Saying that someone is a bad driver because they are chinese is an example of stereotyping (Verb= To stereotype).

A stereotype is a general belief about a group of people (eg. all Australians are relaxed and drink beer). If you use the word, you actually suggest that the accepted belief is not true, or at least inaccurate.

A STEREOTYPE is a general, negative belief about a certain group of people All British people are drunkards. All Americans are imperialistic.