variants
also British generalisation
ˌʤɛnrələˈzeɪʃən 
British ˌʤɛnrəˌlaɪˈzeɪʃən
plural generalizations
often disapproving
1
: 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
He made several sweeping/broad generalizations about women.
2
: the act or process of forming opinions that are based on a small amount of information
She was prone to generalization.
Cite this Entry
“Generalization.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/generalization. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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