The word "stereotype" itself is a combination of two Greek words:
* στερεος (stereos), meaning "solid, firm, fixed"
* τυπος (typos), meaning "mark, impression, model, type"
Therefore, "stereotype" literally means a "solid impression" or a "fixed model." This captures the essence of the concept, as a stereotype is a fixed and often inaccurate image or belief about a group of people.