in general
Idioms-
Referring to a group of persons or a subject as a whole, as opposed to particular ones. For example, I am speaking about contracts in general , or Girls in general mature at a younger age than boys . [Late 1300s] For an antonym, see in particular .
-
For the most part; commonly, usually. For example, In general the children behaved very well , or Our winters are quite mild in general . [Early 1700s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That tells us something about markets lately, and also about investing in general.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 1, 2026
I was particularly curious about the members of Congress who have adorned the walls outside their offices with posters proclaiming their appreciation for the Capitol Police and law enforcement in general.
From Salon • May 29, 2026
But investor optimism has been slowly seeping back into ServiceNow and select software stocks in general.
From MarketWatch • May 29, 2026
“I feel in general I am more comfortable being myself and being more open with my teammates about certain things, so the journaling definitely does help because I can write ‘I belong here,’” Berry said.
From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026
"You know, of course, the story of the red sneakers?" the mother asked the table in general.
From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez
![]()
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.