generalization

American  

[jen-er-uh-luh-zey-shuhn] / ˌdʒɛn ər ə ləˈzeɪ ʃən /

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 stimulus generalization.  the act or process of responding to a stimulus similar to but distinct from the conditioned stimulus.

   2. Also called response generalization.  the act or process of making a different but similar response to the same stimulus.

   3. Also called mediated generalization.  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.

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generalization British  

/ 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 )

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Etymology

Origin of generalization

First recorded in 1755–65; generalize + -ation

Explanation

Taking something specific and applying it more broadly is making a generalization. It's a generalization to say all dogs chase squirrels. A generalization is taking one or a few facts and making a broader, more universal statement. If all the girls you know play with dolls, you might make the generalization that all girls play with dolls. Scientists try to make generalizations based on research — the more data they have, the more accurate the generalization. Generalizations can be similar to stereotypes in that they are sometimes wrong and harmful. Usually, it's best to stick with specifics and avoid generalizations.

Example Sentences

This is a generalization not based on facts.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

There are tens of thousands of undocumented university students in higher education throughout the country, so you can’t make this kind of generalization as a justification for engaging in arrest.

From Slate • Sep. 15, 2025

If Levick shies away from generalization, he too is a composer not easily pinned down.

From Los Angeles Times • May 16, 2025

But what Jones and Whewell showed was that, specifically related to agricultural land, Ricardo had crafted a huge generalization that didn't map onto the reality of the situation.

From Salon • Feb. 1, 2025

Rhetoric deals with probabilities rather than certainties: with analogy and generalization.

From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith

Related Words

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