generalization

[ jen-er-uh-luh-zey-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act or process of generalizing.
2. a result of this process; a general statement, idea, or principle.
3. Logic.
   1. a proposition asserting something to be true either of all members of a certain class or of an indefinite part of that class.
   2. the process of obtaining such propositions.
4. Psychology.
   1. Also called stim·u·lus gen·er·al·i·za·tion [stim, -y, uh, -l, uh, s jen-er-, uh, -l, uh, -, zey, -sh, uh, n]. the act or process of responding to a stimulus similar to but distinct from the conditioned stimulus.
   2. Also called re·sponse gen·er·al·i·za·tion [ri-, spons, jen-er-, uh, -l, uh, -, zey, -sh, uh, n]. the act or process of making a different but similar response to the same stimulus.
   3. Also called me·di·at·ed gen·er·al·i·za·tion [mee, -dee-ey-tid jen-er-, uh, -l, uh, -, zey, -sh, uh, n]. the act or process of responding to a stimulus not physically similar to the conditioned stimulus and not previously encountered in conditioning.
   4. the act or process of perceiving similarity or relation between different stimuli, as between words, colors, sounds, lights, concepts or feelings; the formation of a general notion.

generalization

/ ˌdʒɛnrəlaɪˈzeɪʃən /

noun

1. a principle, theory, etc, with general application
2. the act or an instance of generalizing
3. psychol the evoking of a response learned to one stimulus by a different but similar stimulus See also conditioning
4. logic the derivation of a general statement from a particular one, formally by prefixing a quantifier and replacing a subject term by a bound variable. If the quantifier is universal ( universal generalization ) the argument is not in general valid; if it is existential ( existential generalization ) it is valid
5. logic any statement ascribing a property to every member of a class ( universal generalization ) or to one or more members ( existential generalization )

Word History and Origins

Origin of generalization¹

First recorded in 1755–65; generalize + -ation

Example Sentences

However, until now, it wasn't clear whether stress played a role in memory generalization.

From Science Daily

Admittedly, that is a generalization, but it’s one worth making.

From Los Angeles Times

Just as Moore’s Law helped chip designers predict and plan for the future, its generalizations provide guideposts that can help us ensure that the energy transition proceeds not just quickly but also smoothly and profitably.

From Los Angeles Times

Others criticized Vance for his generalizations, with the New Republic calling the onetime fierce critic of Trump a “false prophet of blue America.”

From Los Angeles Times

Massive generalizations about diverse populations undermine more reasonable arguments about the harm done consciously by government policy.

From New York Times

Related Words

• acumen
• analysis
• argument
• hypothesis
• inference
• interpretation
• premise
• proposition
• rationale
• thinking