Word
generalize
Phoneticsgen·er·al·ize, stress on the first syllable
/ˈdʒɛnɝəˌɫaɪz/
UK spelling · generalise
Definition
v. to make a general statement or rule based on specific examples. You use this when you want to say that something is true for a whole group because it is true for some members.
v. to form a general statement or conclusion from specific instances. Often used in academic contexts to describe the process of identifying patterns across data sets.
Examples
“The researcher tried to generalize her findings to the whole population.”
“It is difficult to generalize about the behavior of all teenagers based on a small sample of students.”
“While the study provides valuable insights into urban migration, the authors caution against generalizing these results to rural areas where economic conditions differ significantly.”
Examples
simple
“The researcher tried to generalize her findings to the whole population.”
contextual
“It is difficult to generalize about the behavior of all teenagers based on a small sample of students.”
complex
“While the study provides valuable insights into urban migration, the authors caution against generalizing these results to rural areas where economic conditions differ significantly.”
Real-World Examples
“Future research is needed to see if these findings generalize to children of responders who developed other health conditions.” “AI has an even harder time generalizing the complex tensions between faith and unbelief, or good and evil, that animate these stories.” Etymology
From general + -ize.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/generalize