Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

generalize

/ˈd͡ʒɛn.(ə.)ɹə.laɪz/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 2.91 in modern English

Syllables: gen-er-al-ize
IPA: /ˈd͡ʒɛn.(ə.)ɹə.laɪz/

20

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

4

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To speak in generalities, or in vague terms.

verb

To infer or induce from specific cases to more general cases or principles.

verb

To spread throughout the body and become systemic.

verb

To derive or deduce (a general concept or principle) from particular facts.

Example Sentences

"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."
"A mere conclusion generalized from a great multitude of facts."

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ǵenh₁- Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Indo-European *ǵénh₁os Proto-Italic *genos Latin genus, generis Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- Proto-Indo-European *-is Proto-Indo-European *h₂élisder.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālis Latin generālisbor. Anglo-Norman generalbor. Middle French generalbor. ▲ Latin generālisder. Middle English general English general Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íd͏̌d͏̌ō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō)bor. Late Latin -izōder. Middle French -iserbor. Middle English -isen English -ize English generalize From general + -ize.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈd͡ʒɛn.(ə.)ɹə.laɪz/
British English: /ˈd͡ʒɛn.(ə.)ɹə.laɪz/

Inflected Forms

generalizes (present, singular) generalizing (participle, present) generalized (participle, past) generalized (past) generalise (alternative)

Derived Forms

degeneralize generalist generalizability generalisability generalizable generalisable generalization generalisation generalizer generaliser misgeneralize overgeneralize

Frequently Paired Words

general

Synonyms

generalize genericize generalise popularize popularise vulgarize vulgarise extrapolate infer

Antonyms

specialize instantiate specify

Questions

How do you pronounce generalize?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈd͡ʒɛn.(ə.)ɹə.laɪz/.
What does generalize mean?: To speak in generalities, or in vague terms.
Where does generalize come from?: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ǵenh₁- Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Indo-European *ǵénh₁os Proto-Italic *genos Latin genus, generis Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- Proto-Indo-European *-is Proto-Indo-European *h₂élisder.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālis Latin generālisbor. Anglo-Norman generalbor. Middle French generalbor. ▲ Latin generālisder. Middle English general English general Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íd͏̌d͏̌ō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō)bor. Late Latin -izōder. Middle French -iserbor. Middle English -isen English -ize English generalize From general + -ize.

How to pronounce generalize

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