general will

British  

noun

1. (in the philosophy of Rousseau) the source of legitimate authority residing in the collective will as contrasted with individual interests

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Example Sentences

While the Justice Department’s investigation is now closed, the bank’s inspector general will take on the investigation into the costly renovations instead, and Pirro did not rule out the possibility of resuming her criminal investigation.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2026

A second phase of the trial is coming in which the state’s attorney general will be asking a judge to grant further relief, including forcing Meta to verify the age of users in the state.

From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026

Instead of finding practical compromises through negotiation, politics became a matter of discerning what Jean-Jacques Rousseau called the general will of the people and then implementing it.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 31, 2025

Sometimes we imagine Hollywood types and icons in general will stroll in with teams of 30 people, all individually responsible for something like hair or makeup or PR.

From Salon • Dec. 10, 2024

“Commissary general, will you make the fire and get water, while Miss March, Miss Sallie, and I spread the table? Who can make good coffee?”

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott