Generalized
ˈdʒɛnərəˌlaɪzd
Definitions
2 meaningsTo make a general statement, inference, or conclusion from specific instances.
ˈdʒɛnərəˌlaɪzd
To make a general statement or form a general concept.
The study generalized its findings to a wider population.
💡 Simply: Imagine you see a few dogs barking, so you decide that all dogs bark. When you 'generalize', you are taking small pieces of information and using them to make a bigger assumption, often too big.
👶 For kids: To make a big idea based on just a few small ideas. Like, if you see three cats meow, you might think ALL cats meow.
More Examples
It's dangerous to generalize about people based on stereotypes.
We shouldn't generalize from such limited data.
How It's Used
"Philosophers generalize from specific observations to broader theories."
"Scientists generalize experimental results to make predictions."
"We tend to generalize about people from different cultures."
Characterized by broad application or scope; not limited to a specific area.
ˈdʒɛnərəˌlaɪzd
Having been made general; not specific or detailed.
The doctor diagnosed a generalized infection.
💡 Simply: Picture a map that shows the big picture, not the tiny details. If something is 'generalized', it applies to a lot of different things instead of just one very specific thing.
👶 For kids: Something that's big and includes lots of little things. Like, a 'generalized' toybox has all kinds of toys, not just one kind.
More Examples
A generalized approach to the problem was adopted.
The system provides generalized access to the database.
How It's Used
"Generalized anxiety disorder affects multiple aspects of a person's life."
"The program used a generalized algorithm to solve the problem."
"The writer used a generalized term to avoid specifics."
From Middle English *generalisen*, from Old French *generaliser*, from Latin *generālis* ('general').
The term 'generalized' has been used since the 17th century in various fields like mathematics and philosophy, gaining wider usage across disciplines in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Memory tip
Imagine making a map of a whole region, based only on what you've seen in a few places – you're generalizing.
Practice
Word Origin
Root: generālis