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

An algorithm that isn’t capable of retaining its previous memories is severely kneecapped in its ability to infer or generalize.

From Singularity Hub 

Several solvers, like Michael Branicky, Josh Silverman and Rajeev Pakalapati, generalized this method, finding a formula for the expected number of guesses for a dictionary with any number of words.

From FiveThirtyEight

That’s because viral infections tend to rev up the immune system’s generalized antiviral defense system, known as the innate immune system.

From Science News

DeepMind says LPG takes this a step further by discovering its own value function from scratch and generalizing to more complex environments.

From Singularity Hub 

The more environments LPG saw, the more it could successfully generalize.

From Singularity Hub 

It is a common enough occurrence that I would generalize it to essentially every graduate of medical school.

From The Daily Beast

Third, for pol- icy purposes we need to know whether the results of these studies generalize.

From The Daily Beast

Tel Aviv, to generalize but slightly, dislikes Netanyahu and fears the future he personifies.

From The Daily Beast

I don't think it's safe to generalize about any industry or the people therein.

From The Daily Beast

It is impossible to generalize on the issue of Jewish councils.

From The Daily Beast

But it would manifestly extend this article beyond its just limits, and we must therefore generalize our remaining notices.

From Project Gutenberg

It may be said that these were excrescences or city fashions; that one must not generalize.

From Project Gutenberg

Fortunately to generalize is only a part of the business of the historian.

From Project Gutenberg

From which it follows that men who use language are able to abstract or generalize their ideas.

From Project Gutenberg

We may generalize this instance so as to cover the causes of many memories.

From Project Gutenberg