Wiktionary

generalize

English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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general +‎ -ize

Pronunciation

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Verb

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generalize (third-person singular simple present generalizes, present participle generalizing, simple past and past participle generalized)

  1. To speak in generalities, or in vague terms.
  2. To infer or induce from specific cases to more general cases or principles.
    • 1795, William Nicholson, A Dictionary of Chemistry:
      Copernicus generalized the celestial motions by merely referring them to the moon's motion. Newton generalized them still more by referring this last to the motion of a stone through the air.
  3. To spread throughout the body and become systemic.
  4. To derive or deduce (a general concept or principle) from particular facts.
    • August 24, 1831, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Truth and Maxims:
      A mere conclusion generalized from a great multitude of facts.

Synonyms

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Antonyms

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Derived terms

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Derived terms
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Translations

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to spread throughout the body and become systemic
deduce — see deduce

Portuguese

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Verb

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generalize

  1. inflection of generalizar:
    1. first/third-person singular present subjunctive
    2. third-person singular imperative
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