# generalize

/ˈdʒɛnɝəˌɫaɪz/ (US) · CEFR B2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/generalize
Updated: 2026-05-19

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.