generalized

adjective

gen·​er·​al·​ized ˈje-nə-rə-ˌlīzd 

ˈjen-rə-

: made general

especially : not highly differentiated biologically nor strictly adapted to a particular environment

Examples of generalized in a Sentence

The patient has been experiencing generalized pain.

Recent Examples on the Web

Infants with the condition may show symptoms of constipation, generalized weakness, poor feeding and difficulty sucking or swallowing, drooping eyelids or sluggish pupils, low muscle tone and breathing difficulty. —Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 9 Nov. 2025

This generalized recognition of our nation’s foundational sins is certainly welcome, it’s just not geared toward a particular point. —Ben Travers, IndieWire, 22 Oct. 2025

These also had affected many countries in the generalized Latin American debt crisis of the 1980s-1990s and in many African countries. —Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 19 Oct. 2025

Leyla gave a generalized description of a man in this vein—perhaps named Mahmoud, perhaps from Dagestan. —Julia Ioffe, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1768, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing generalized

• generalized anxiety disorder

Rhymes for generalized

• americanized
• anathematized
• collateralized
• contextualized
• conventionalized
• demilitarized
• demineralized
• departmentalized
• industrialised
• industrialized
• materialised
• materialized

Medical Definition

generalized

adjective

gen·​er·​al·​ized

variants or British generalised

1

a

: spread or extended throughout the body : affecting many parts of the body

generalized paralysis

generalized aches and pains

b

: affecting or involving all of a single part or region of the body

generalized back pain

generalized mouth soreness

2

: not highly differentiated biologically nor strictly adapted to a particular environment

a primitive generalized mammal