generalization

noun

gen·​er·​al·​i·​za·​tion ˌjen-rə-lə-ˈzā-shən  ˌje-nə- 

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

Synonyms of generalization

• stereotype
• concept
• notion
• conception
• theory

Examples of generalization in a Sentence

He made several sweeping generalizations about women.

She was prone to generalization.

Recent Examples on the Web

The exception to this generalization is Harris tweed, which is strictly defined by an Act of Parliament as being a pure virgin wool that has been spun, dyed, and then woven at home by craftspeople on Scotland’s Outer Hebrides islands. —Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 8 Dec. 2025

Walz said in a press conference on Thursday that his office is working to bring those involved in fraud in Minnesota to justice, but said it can be done without generalizations about a whole group of people. —Tesfaye Negussie, ABC News, 8 Dec. 2025

The sample is going to be used to make generalizations about everybody, Turow said, by using complex statistical modeling and artificial intelligence. —Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 4 Dec. 2025

The team highlights that by linking skills to object context and breaking 6-DoF motions into Gaussian components, the system improves efficiency and generalization. —Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 28 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

generalize + -ation

First Known Use

1761, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for generalization

• acclimatisation
• acclimatization
• acidification
• actualization
• annualization
• autocorrelation
• autoregulation
• beatification
• beneficiation
• biodegradation
• biotransformation
• bureaucratization

Kids Definition

generalization

noun

gen·​er·​al·​i·​za·​tion ˌjen-(ə-)rə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

1

: the act or process of generalizing

2

: a general statement, law, principle, or proposition

Medical Definition

generalization

noun

gen·​er·​al·​iza·​tion

variants or British generalisation

ˌjen-(ə-)rə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

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