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 .
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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.
“Defense in general is very bipartisan,” Mr. Hargis says.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026
Yet there’s one simple thing that could prevent markets from hearing less from the Fed in general — even if Warsh doesn’t like it.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 12, 2026
Sustained higher inflation could push rates up, but the weakness of the UK's jobs market and sluggish economic growth in general means this is by no means certain.
From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026
If Broadway is changing faster than the old guard can keep pace, the same is true for the culture in general.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026
The multicultural perspective tends to cast Indigenous peoples in general as an oppressed racial group without considering important political differences between the Native nations and other oppressed populations.
From "An Indigenous People’s History of the United States" by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
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.
