generalise
To talk about something in a very general way, not including details.
To make a general statement about people or things, often ignoring important differences or exceptions.
To make a general rule based on examples or data.
To form a general rule, principle, or conclusion from particular cases, evidence, or examples.
To say something is also true for other situations or people.
To treat a result, idea, or method as valid in a wider range of situations or for a wider group than the original one.
To remove details so something becomes more general.
To make a description, representation, or design more general by removing specific details or special cases.
In medical use, to spread widely in the body.
In medicine, to spread from a local area to a wider area or to the whole body; to become generalised.
- Base: generalise
- 3rd Person Singular: generalises
- Present Participle: generalising
- Past: generalised
to generalise
1speaking in a broad way
Used to mean “speaking generally”.
- To generalise, people prefer products that save them time.
- To generalise, the earlier we start, the better the results tend to be.
- To generalise, this approach works best with simple systems.
- To generalise, winter is colder than summer.
- To generalise, children learn fast.
without wishing to generalise
1hedge before a broad claim
Used to show you know a general statement may not be true for everyone.
- Without wishing to generalise, customers tend to be more patient in smaller shops.
- Without wishing to generalise, people often feel more stressed at this time of year.
- Without wishing to generalise, older houses usually need more maintenance.
- Without wishing to generalise, some people dislike change.