generalize

To speak in generalities, or in vague terms.

Verb

  1. To speak in generalities, or in vague terms.
  2. To infer or induce from specific cases to more general cases or principles.
    • Copernicus generalized the celestial motions by merely referring them to the moon's motion. Newton generalized them still more by referring this last to the motion of a stone through the air. - 1795, William Nicholson,...
  3. To spread throughout the body and become systemic.
  4. To derive or deduce (a general concept or principle) from particular facts.
    • A mere conclusion generalized from a great multitude of facts. - August 24, 1831, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Truth and Maxims:

Origin

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ǵenh₁- Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Indo-European *ǵénh₁os Proto-Italic *genos Latin genus, generis Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-der.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālis Latin generālisbor. Anglo-Norman generalbor. Middle French generalbor. ▲ Latin generālisder. Middle English general English general Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō)bor. Late Latin -izōder. Middle French -iserbor. Middle English -isen English -ize English generalize From general + -ize.

Forms

generalizes generalizing generalized generalise

Synonyms

generalize genericize

Antonyms

specialize instantiate specify

Hyponyms

blandify beat around the bush circumlocute go around the houses hedge mince matters mince words pussyfoot prevaricate ramble waffle overgeneralize undergeneralize

Related

general

Derived

degeneralize generalist generalizability generalisability generalizable generalisable generalization generalisation generalizer generaliser misgeneralize overgeneralize regeneralize undergeneralize