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
From the M-W Editors
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
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As a blanket generalization, this is untrue and unfair.
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There were numerous inaccuracies and unfair generalizations in the three hours given by PBS to Coulson’s opinions.
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Take a very large generalization: Whites, for example, believe in technology.
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Pity the curator trying to get a handle on our current era, where a show as diverse as this is much more of the every-artist-for-themselves spirit, defying both conventional categories and easy generalizations.
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The two congressmen engaged in an unusual public shouting match during a House Judiciary Committee meeting Wednesday (June 21) with Richmond bristling at King's sweeping generalization of violent crime in the Crescent City.
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News media, for example, can agree beforehand on how to deal with rumors and avoid sensationalism and gross generalizations.
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The post, like many of Jionde’s, offers opinion and some generalizations, along with facts and cultural context.
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That may be massive generalization, but still, shopping for the men in your life is no easy feat.
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
GENERALIZATION Defined for English Language Learners
generalization
playDefinition of generalization for English Language Learners
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: 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
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: the act or process of forming opinions that are based on a small amount of information
GENERALIZATION Defined for Kids
generalization
playDefinition of generalization for Students
1 : the act of forming conclusions from a small amount of information
2 : a general statement : a conclusion based on only a small number of items or instances
Medical Dictionary
generalization
Medical Definition of generalization
1: the action or process of becoming widespread or diffuse secondary generalization of a partial seizure
2: the act or process whereby a learned response is made to a stimulus similar to but not identical with the conditioned stimulus
Learn More about generalization
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See words that rhyme with generalization Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for generalization Spanish Central: Translation of generalization Nglish: Translation of generalization for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about generalization
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