generalize

[ jen-er-uh-lahyz ]

verb (used with object)

, gen·er·al·ized, gen·er·al·iz·ing.

1. to infer (a general principle, trend, etc.) from particular facts, statistics, or the like.
2. to infer or form (a general principle, opinion, conclusion, etc.) from only a few facts, examples, or the like.
3. to give a general rather than a specific or special character or form to.
4. to make general; bring into general use or knowledge.

verb (used without object)

, gen·er·al·ized, gen·er·al·iz·ing.

1. to form general principles, opinions, etc.
2. to deal, think, or speak in generalities.
3. to make general inferences.

generalize

/ ˈdʒɛnrəˌlaɪz /

verb

1. to form (general principles or conclusions) from (detailed facts, experience, etc); infer
2. intr to think or speak in generalities, esp in a prejudiced way
3. tr; usually passive to cause to become widely used or known
4. intr of a disease
   1. to spread throughout the body
   2. to change from a localized infection or condition to a systemic one

      generalized infection

Derived Forms

• ˈgeneralˌizer, noun

Other Words From

• gener·al·iza·ble adjective
• gener·al·izer noun
• non·gener·al·ized adjective
• un·gener·al·ized adjective
• un·gener·al·izing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of generalize¹

First recorded in 1745–55; general + -ize

Example Sentences

However, since the Kaiser team focused on members of a single health plan, their findings may not generalize to young people elsewhere, he added.

From Los Angeles Times

With a caveat that it couldn’t generalize to the entire population, the Rand study found a greater connection in the three communities between substance use and homelessness than other studies.

From Los Angeles Times

Following Monday’s VP announcement, a Times opinion column condemned the memoir, noting that Vance’s writing generalized 35% of the country “as tragic victims of alcoholism, drug abuse, laziness and their own self-destructive moral failings,” which in turn caused the news media to further isolate and generalize the white working class.

From Los Angeles Times

Conversely, Miller notes that some technically ultraprocessed foods, like liquid egg whites, raisins and unsweetened raisins are actually quite "good for you," so it's challenging to generalize too much.

From Salon

The MIT researchers developed a technique that can take a series of smaller datasets, like those gathered from many robotic warehouses, learn separate policies from each one, and combine the policies in a way that enables a robot to generalize to many tasks.

From Science Daily