1
: involving, applicable to, or affecting the whole
2
: involving, relating to, or applicable to every member of a class, kind, or group
the general equation of a straight line
3
: not confined by specialization or careful limitation
a general outline
4
: belonging to the common nature of a group of like individuals : generic
the general characteristics of a species
5
a
: applicable to or characteristic of the majority of individuals involved : prevalent
the general opinion
b
: concerned or dealing with universal rather than particular aspects
6
: relating to, determined by, or concerned with main elements rather than limited details
bearing a general resemblance to the original
7
: holding superior rank or taking precedence over others similarly titled
the general manager
1
: something (such as a concept, principle, or statement) that involves or is applicable to the whole
2
3
archaic
: the general public : people
4
a
b
: a commissioned officer in the army, air force, or marine corps who ranks above a lieutenant general and whose insignia is four stars compare admiral
Synonyms
Examples of general in a Sentence
Adjective
They have issued a general warning.
The general consensus is that we should go ahead.
The witness was able to provide a very general description of the thief.
She began her talk with some general observations about the state of the industry.
The book provides a good general introduction to the subject.
My concerns are all general—nothing specific.
The details of the new plan are different, but it's based on the same general concept.
My general impression was that things were going well.
They were found in the same general area.
I'm going in the general direction of the store.
Recent Examples on the Web
David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2024
Financial assets in general have historically fared badly during inflation booms, while tangible assets like houses have held their value better.
—Jonathan Mahler Edoardo Ballerini Emma Kehlbeck Joel Thibodeau, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2024
Tesla wasn’t just a victim of a general slow-down in EV interest, though.
—Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN, 7 Apr. 2024
April 18 is the last day in the state’s 2024 legislative session and time is running out to make the changes for the November general presidential election.
—Karissa Waddick, USA TODAY, 7 Apr. 2024
What emerged as a really important appendix from that research was that the mental health system, and in general, the health system in Gaza, is close to collapsing.
—Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2024
My general advice when self-distressing is to go slow.
—Jane Herman, Vogue, 7 Apr. 2024
Apart from thoroughly enjoying the city’s beauty in general, there are endless possibilities for devoting your stay entirely to culture.
—Maddalena Fossati, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Apr. 2024
Look at the general operating hours as well as how late and early classes are offered, and whether there are weekend sessions.
—Laura Daily, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024
Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 7 Apr. 2024
The retired general and former chief of the military general staff was able to instill public trust in Netanyahu's cabinet.
—Mansee Khurana, NPR, 4 Apr. 2024
Not a president, or a general, or an enslaver, Eddie Yergason was a gawky 19-year-old textile clerk.
—Jon Grinspan, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Apr. 2024
This is the common misunderstanding with both RCS in general and Apple’s update in particular.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
Then Borodin published a letter from the prosecutor general’s office showing that a request had been made to the justice ministry to consider that.
—Reuters, NBC News, 29 Mar. 2024
Followers are being urged to write to their local member of parliament and the director general of the department.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN, 27 Mar. 2024
In January, Islamic State Khorasan, or ISIS-K, carried out twin bombings in Iran that killed scores and wounded hundreds of others at a memorial service for Iran’s former top general, Qassim Suleimani, who was targeted in a U.S. drone strike four years earlier.
—Eric Schmitt, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2024
The first comptroller general determined the state was due about $750,000, which would be worth about $20 million today considering inflation.
—CBS News, 27 Mar. 2024
Adjective
Hot water, handwashing and general cleanliness violations led to South Miami-Dade Publix store failing state inspection Friday.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2024
Financial assets in general have historically fared badly during inflation booms, while tangible assets like houses have held their value better.
—Jonathan Mahler Edoardo Ballerini Emma Kehlbeck Joel Thibodeau, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2024
Tesla wasn’t just a victim of a general slow-down in EV interest, though.
—Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN, 7 Apr. 2024
April 18 is the last day in the state’s 2024 legislative session and time is running out to make the changes for the November general presidential election.
—Karissa Waddick, USA TODAY, 7 Apr. 2024
What emerged as a really important appendix from that research was that the mental health system, and in general, the health system in Gaza, is close to collapsing.
—Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2024
My general advice when self-distressing is to go slow.
—Jane Herman, Vogue, 7 Apr. 2024
Apart from thoroughly enjoying the city’s beauty in general, there are endless possibilities for devoting your stay entirely to culture.
—Maddalena Fossati, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Apr. 2024
Look at the general operating hours as well as how late and early classes are offered, and whether there are weekend sessions.
—Laura Daily, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024
Noun
In Oklahoma, the major general announced that 30 National Guardsmen will be deployed to support the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and other local emergency managers amid the influx of visitors, according to the Oklahoma Voice.
—Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 7 Apr. 2024
The retired general and former chief of the military general staff was able to instill public trust in Netanyahu's cabinet.
—Mansee Khurana, NPR, 4 Apr. 2024
Not a president, or a general, or an enslaver, Eddie Yergason was a gawky 19-year-old textile clerk.
—Jon Grinspan, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Apr. 2024
This is the common misunderstanding with both RCS in general and Apple’s update in particular.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
Then Borodin published a letter from the prosecutor general’s office showing that a request had been made to the justice ministry to consider that.
—Reuters, NBC News, 29 Mar. 2024
Followers are being urged to write to their local member of parliament and the director general of the department.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN, 27 Mar. 2024
In January, Islamic State Khorasan, or ISIS-K, carried out twin bombings in Iran that killed scores and wounded hundreds of others at a memorial service for Iran’s former top general, Qassim Suleimani, who was targeted in a U.S. drone strike four years earlier.
—Eric Schmitt, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2024
The first comptroller general determined the state was due about $750,000, which would be worth about $20 million today considering inflation.
—CBS News, 27 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'general.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to general
Dictionary Entries Near general
Cite this Entry
“General.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/general. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
general
1 of 2 adjective
gen·er·al
ˈjen-(ə-)rəl 
1
: involving, applying to, or affecting the whole : not local or partial
a general election
the general body of citizens
2
: relating to or covering all instances
a general conclusion
3
: not specific or in detail
a general outline
4
: common to many
the general custom here
5
: not special : not specialized
a general store
6
: of top rank
general manager
general
2 of 2 noun
: a military officer with a rank above that of a colonel
especially
: an officer with the rank just above that of a lieutenant general
Medical Definition
general
adjective
gen·er·al
ˈjen-(ə-)rəl
1
: not confined by specialization or careful limitation
a general surgeon
2
: belonging to the common nature of a group of like individuals
the general characteristics of a species
3
: involving or affecting practically the entire body or organism : not local
general infirmity
Legal Definition
general
adjective
gen·er·al
ˈjen-rəl, ˈje-nə-
1
: involving, applicable to, or affecting the whole
2
: involving, relating to, or applicable to every member of a class, kind, or group
3
: not confined by specialization or limitation
4
: relating to, determined by, or concerned with main elements rather than limiting details
5
: holding superior rank or taking precedence over others similarly titled
the general manager
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