# generalized

/ˈdʒɛnɝəˌɫaɪzd/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/generalized
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. broad or non-specific

adjective · CEFR B2

not limited to one specific thing; broad or general.

For teachers: referring to a broad application or characterization that lacks specific detail or specialization.

- The report only gave a generalized view of the problem without any details.
- The candidate's generalized promises failed to satisfy voters who were looking for concrete policy proposals regarding the local economy.

Usage: Often used to criticize a lack of detail in an argument or description.

### 2. affecting the whole body

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

affecting your whole body rather than just one small area.

For teachers: affecting the entire body or a whole organ system rather than being localized.

- He went to the doctor because he had a generalized ache all over his body.
- The patient presented with generalized swelling, suggesting a systemic issue rather than an injury to a specific limb.

Teaching tip: In medical English, this is the opposite of 'localized'.

## Examples

- The patient complained of generalized muscle aches.
- While some rashes appear only on the arms, this particular infection causes a generalized breakout across the torso and legs.
- The physician noted that the patient was experiencing generalized fatigue, which made it difficult to pinpoint a single underlying cause without further blood work and diagnostic imaging.

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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.