general

adjective gen·er·al \ ˈjen-rəl , ˈje-nə- \

|Updated on: 20 Jun 2018

Examples: general in a Sentence

Definition of general

1 : involving, applicable to, or affecting the whole

2 : involving, relating to, or applicable to every member of a class, kind, or group

the general equation of a straight line

3 : not confined by specialization or careful limitation

a general outline

4 : belonging to the common nature of a group of like individuals : generic

the general characteristics of a species

5 a : applicable to or characteristic of the majority of individuals involved : prevalent

the general opinion

b : concerned or dealing with universal rather than particular aspects

6 : relating to, determined by, or concerned with main elements rather than limited details

bearing a general resemblance to the original

7 : holding superior rank or taking precedence over others similarly titled

the general manager

See general defined for English-language learners

See general defined for kids

Examples of general in a Sentence

They have issued a general warning.
The general consensus is that we should go ahead.
The witness was able to provide a very general description of the thief.
She began her talk with some general observations about the state of the industry.
The book provides a good general introduction to the subject.
My concerns are all general—nothing specific.
The details of the new plan are different, but it's based on the same general concept.
My general impression was that things were going well.
They were found in the same general area.
I'm going in the general direction of the store.

Recent Examples of general from the Web

But former Cleveland Cavaliers general manager David Griffin said Friday on SiriusXM NBA radio that the Sixers have bigger goals.

— keith pompey, Philly.com, "Sixers' NBA draft night could go a lot of different directions," 16 June 2018
New York Rangers general manager Neil Smith scouted Yzerman for the Wings in the 1983 draft.

— drew sharp, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit Red Wings 1998 Stanley Cup flashback: Steve Yzerman's legacy," 16 June 2018
Few if any general managers value the sentimental side of baseball as much as Dayton Moore.

— sam mellinger, kansascity, "Here's why the Royals should at least be open to trading Salvador Perez," 15 June 2018
But Arcia has buried himself at the plate this season with a regression so steep that general manager David Stearns made the difficult decision in May to send him to Class AAA Colorado Springs to clear the deck and hopefully regain some confidence.

— tom haudricourt, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Haudricourt: Brewers have few options as they wait for Orlando Arcia to get going at plate," 15 June 2018
The only other candidate to prefile for the clerk’s job by Friday afternoon was Jason Daniel Paynter, a former Tavares police officer who is the general manager of Electrical Works.

— staff report, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Governor puts Lake County clerk job on ballot, appoints interim," 15 June 2018
Its conclusions are uncomfortably similar to the thought processes of general managers who balked at integration before Branch Rickey signed Jackie Robinson, for instance.

— ben rowen, The Atlantic, "Finding the Formula for Team Chemistry," 15 June 2018
In the deal, Interior Gas Utility bought Pentex Alaska Natural Gas Co. from the Alaska Industrial Development & Export Authority, said Jomo Stewart, utility general manager, on Thursday.

— alex demarban, Anchorage Daily News, "$61 million sale finalized in effort to cut Fairbanks energy costs, air pollution," 15 June 2018
Now the general manager of the Papa John’s Pizza restaurant at the corner of Centre City Parkway and Felicita Avenue, Calderon spent a total of about three years homeless in Escondido.

— j. harry jones, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Pizza and chicken wings for the homeless of Escondido," 15 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'general.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of general

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin generalis, from gener-, genus kind, class — more at kin

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

general Synonyms

general

noun

Definition of general

1 : something (such as a concept, principle, or statement) that involves or is applicable to the whole

2 : superior general

3 archaic : the general public : people

4 a : general officer

b : a commissioned officer in the army, air force, or marine corps who ranks above a lieutenant general and whose insignia is four stars — compare admiral

— in general

: for the most part : generally

In general, things are going as planned.

Recent Examples of general from the Web

Marta Ruedas, the deputy special representative of the secretary general in Iraq, said USAID funds have helped support more than 340 projects.

— carol morello, Washington Post, "Under pressure from Pence, U.S. aid is directed to Christian, Yazidi communities in Iraq," 16 June 2018
One of the images shows Trump saluting a North Korean general, with Kim in the background looking somewhat taken aback.

— tracy wilkinson, latimes.com, "U.S. seeks to assuage Asian allies and secure China's support after North Korea summit," 14 June 2018
Trump's decision to salute a high-ranking general in an authoritarian country with a long history of human rights abuses has created something of a stir.

— chris cillizza, CNN, "What was Donald Trump thinking when he saluted a North Korean general?," 14 June 2018
This is today’s top storyline, given that Democrats’ failure to make the general in these three districts that Hillary Clinton carried in 2016 could make their chances of winning back the House much, much harder.

— chuck todd, NBC News, "It's the biggest 2018 primary day so far. Here's what to watch for.," 5 June 2018
The Marine Corps general valued her toughness and soldierly sacrifice.

— josh dawsey, courant.com, "'We're closed!': Trump directs his anger over immigration at Homeland Security secretary," 25 May 2018
That shouldn’t have included the presidential candidate of a major political party who was also a sitting senator and a two-star general in the Air Force Reserve.

— lee edwards, WSJ, "The FBI Spied for LBJ’s Campaign," 24 May 2018
Rokuichiro Michii, Japan’s consul-general in Boston, celebrated the opening of a satellite office in the Cambridge Innovation Center’s One Broadway location in Cambridge on May 8.

— jon chesto, BostonGlobe.com, "Retired SJC justice Bob Cordy is still busy writing his next chapter," 21 May 2018
Of three major migrant routes that lead through Mexico to the U.S. border, the one leading to Tijuana remains the least traveled, said Erick Cardona, Guatemala’s consul-general in Tijuana.

— sandra dibble, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Seeking asylum, Central American migrants await fate as they approach Tijuana border," 22 Apr. 2018

Origin and Etymology of general

derivative of ¹general

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1550

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

GENERAL Defined for English Language Learners

general

adjective

Definition of general for English Language Learners

: of, relating to, or affecting all the people or things in a group : involving or including many or most people
: relating to the main or major parts of something rather than the details : not specific
—used to indicate that a description relates to an entire person or thing rather than a particular part

GENERAL Defined for Kids

general

adjective gen·er·al \ ˈje-nə-rəl , ˈjen-rəl \

Definition of general for Students

1 : having to do with the whole : applying to more than just a small area or group

It's a matter of general interest.

2 : not specific or detailed

The book is a good general introduction to football.

3 : involving or including many or most people

Her plans won general acceptance.

4 : not specialized

a general store

general

noun

Definition of general for Students

: a military officer ranking above a colonel

— in general

: for the most part

In general, I like school.

Medical Dictionary

general

adjective gen·er·al \ ˈjen-(ə-)rəl \

medical Definition of general

1 : not confined by specialization or careful limitation

a general surgeon

2 : belonging to the common nature of a group of like individuals

the general characteristics of a species

3 : involving or affecting practically the entire body or organism : not local

general infirmity

Law Dictionary

general

adjective gen·er·al \ ˈjen-rəl, ˈje-nə- \

legal Definition of general

1 : involving, applicable to, or affecting the whole

2 : involving, relating to, or applicable to every member of a class, kind, or group

3 : not confined by specialization or limitation

4 : relating to, determined by, or concerned with main elements rather than limiting details

5 : holding superior rank or taking precedence over others similarly titled

the general manager

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GENERAL Defined for English Language Learners

general

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GENERAL Defined for Kids

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Law Dictionary

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