generalization

noun gen·er·al·i·za·tion \ ˌjen-rə-lə-ˈzā-shən , ˌje-nə- \

Updated on: 2 Apr 2018

Definition of generalization

1 : the act or process of generalizing

2 : a general statement, law, principle, or proposition

made broad generalizations about women

3 : the act or process whereby a learned response is made to a stimulus similar to but not identical with the conditioned stimulus

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See generalization defined for kids

Examples of generalization in a Sentence

He made several sweeping generalizations about women.
She was prone to generalization.

Recent Examples of generalization from the Web

Instead, the brain promotes generalization, helping us remember the most important gist of a conversation.

— chicagotribune.com, "Study: Being forgetful might actually mean you're smarter," 28 Mar. 2018
As a professor at Princeton, Dr. Langlands started investigating ideas that connected the mathematics of integers with a generalization of the theory of periodic functions.

— kenneth chang, New York Times, "Robert P. Langlands Is Awarded the Abel Prize, a Top Math Honor," 20 Mar. 2018
That's a generalization, for sure, because our red regions are painted a deep, deep red.

— steve lopez, latimes.com, "Welcome to California, President Trump! Now skip the wall and let us educate you," 10 Mar. 2018
And continuing to make sweeping generalizations about the lack of faith of those outside conservatism seems unlikely to help the GOP win votes.

— eugene scott, Washington Post, "Rick Saccone’s accusation that the left hates God may be more alienating than compelling," 14 Mar. 2018
Sessions' speech in Sacramento last week was a tidal wave of untruths, exaggerations and simplistic generalizations of complex issues that mark the immigration debate in America.

— marcos breton, sacbee, "This video by a Sacramento-area politician is the reason immigration never gets fixed | The Sacramento Bee," 11 Mar. 2018
In many instances, these women butted up against negative assumptions about their ethnicity that locked them out of certain assignments; were subjected to sweeping generalizations; and were passed over for white colleagues.

— refinery29.com, "Media Outlets Still Fail To Hire And Promote Women Of Color," 8 Mar. 2018
Besides the problematic practice of making sweeping generalizations based on inconclusive and correlational research, the Duchess's fingers aren't so unusual after all.

— caroline picard, Good Housekeeping, "Everyone Is Talking About Kate Middleton's Fingers Right Now," 7 Mar. 2018
KaptainKielbasa also reminds viewers of the maps that these are generalizations, and of course, done in good fun.

— justin l. mack, Indianapolis Star, "Reddit user offers up funny '9 ways to divide Indiana' maps," 2 Jan. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of generalization

generalize + -ation

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1761

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

generalization Synonyms

Synonyms

concept, conception, generality, notion, stereotype;

adage, proverb, saw, saying;

oversimplification, simplification;

GENERALIZATION Defined for English Language Learners

generalization

noun

Definition of generalization for English Language Learners

: a general statement : a statement about a group of people or things that is based on only a few people or things in that group
: the act or process of forming opinions that are based on a small amount of information