Generalizing: meaning, definitions and examples

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generalizing

 

[ ˈdʒɛnərəlaɪzɪŋ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

broad application

Generalizing refers to the process of forming general concepts or conclusions based on specific instances or observations. It involves taking individual cases and applying their characteristics or results to a broader context. This process is essential in various fields such as science, philosophy, and logic.

Synonyms

abstracting, simplifying, universalizing

Examples of usage

  • She is generalizing the results of her study to a wider population.
  • When generalizing, it's important to consider exceptions.
  • The scientist warned against generalizing findings from a single experiment.

Translations

Translations of the word "generalizing" in other languages:

🇵🇹 generalizando

🇮🇳 सामान्यीकृत करना

🇩🇪 verallgemeinernd

🇮🇩 mengeneralisasi

🇺🇦 узагальнюючи

🇵🇱 generalizując

🇯🇵 一般化する

🇫🇷 généraliser

🇪🇸 generalizando

🇹🇷 genelleştirerek

🇰🇷 일반화하다

🇸🇦 تعميم

🇨🇿 generalizující

🇸🇰 generalizujúci

🇨🇳 概括

🇸🇮 generaliziranje

🇮🇸 almenning

🇰🇿 жалпылау

🇬🇪 გაერთიანება

🇦🇿 ümumiləşdirmək

🇲🇽 generalizando

Word origin

The term 'generalizing' is derived from the word 'general', which comes from the Latin 'generalis', meaning 'belonging to all, involving all'. 'General' was adopted into Middle English in the 14th century, evolving from the Latin root through Old French. The suffix '-izing' indicates the process of making something general. In essence, generalizing entails extending particular cases to create broad generalizations, a practice found in reasoning and scientific methods since ancient times. The concept emphasizes the cognitive process of simplifying complex observations into understandable laws or principles, which has been critical in developing theories and frameworks in various disciplines.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #22,121, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.