sztampa

Sztampa is a Polish noun with several related meanings tied to printing, stamping, and metaphorical usage. Historically, sztampa referred to a printing plate used to reproduce text or images, usually a metal plate formed as a stereotype or as part of a typesetting block. In traditional publishing, sztampa plates enabled mass reproduction and consistent layout across pages.

In contemporary Polish, sztampa is commonly used metaphorically to denote a cliché, a stock trope, or a predictable, formulaic element in media, literature, or advertising. The phrase to jest sztampa signals that something is unoriginal or overused.

In industrial contexts, the term can also denote a stamping die, mold, or embossing plate used to shape materials such as metal, plastic, or leather; in this sense, a sztampa is a tool rather than a printed page. The exact usage depends on discipline and region.