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

This suggests the decline in small-c conservatism is perhaps even greater than the generalized drop-off that shows up in the polling. —Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 7 May 2026

These generalized standards—none of which speak directly to the quality of the program service provided—are very easy to meet for the vast majority of stations. —ArsTechnica, 29 Apr. 2026

That these staffing changes and scandals involve figures from such disparate parts of the Administration, and are coming just months ahead of the midterm elections, suggests a more generalized crisis. —Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2026

In a study published last year in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering, Sayour treated mice with a generalized vaccine, using mRNA to stimulate production of a protein called PD-L1, making their tumors more susceptible to immunotherapy. —Caleb Hellerman, CNN Money, 20 Apr. 2026

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
• depersonalized
• industrialised
• industrialized
• materialised

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