generalizationn.
/ˌdʒɛn(ə)rəlʌɪˈzeɪʃn/, /ˌdʒɛn(ə)rl̩ʌɪˈzeɪʃn/, U.S. /ˌdʒɛn(ə)rələˈzeɪʃ(ə)n/, /ˌdʒɛn(ə)rəˌlaɪˈzeɪʃ(ə)n/ 1.
a. The action or process of forming or expressing a general concept or proposition on the basis of inference from particular instances.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > [noun] > in general terms
generalization1761
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > process of reasoning, ratiocination > process of inferring, inference > [noun] > based on inferred laws
generalization1761
extrapolation1872
retrodiction1895
intrapolation1923
postdiction1940
1761 A. Smith Consid. on First Formation Lang. in Philol. Misc. 451 The original invention of such words would require a yet greater effort of abstraction and generalization, than that of Nouns Adjective.
1794 J. Hutton Diss. Philos. Light p. xiii Natural philosophy requires no less the generalisation of the knowledge which we have acquired, than the acquisition of particular knowledge is required for the purpose of that generalisation.
1825 T. B. Macaulay Milton in Edinb. Rev. Aug. 307 Generalization is necessary to the advancement of knowledge.
a1856 W. Hamilton Lect. Metaphysics (1859) II. xxxv. 294 Generalisation is the process through which we obtain what are called general or universal notions.
1926 Sci. Monthly Feb. 133/1 Psychologists..have been guilty of over-hasty generalization.
1960 J. S. Bruner Process of Educ. iii. 34 The child learns how to represent the external world through symbols established by simple generalization.
2000 R. P. Dobash et al. in M. S. Kimmel & A. Aronson Gendered Society Reader 385 This is a slender basis for such generalization, but fuller information does indeed bear Steinmetz out.
b. A concept or proposition arising from this process; a general conclusion or inference; (with negative connotation) an excessively broad or general statement based on limited or inadequate evidence; an overgeneralization. Also: an act of generalizing.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > [noun] > conclusion > in general terms
generalization1794
generalism1809
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > process of reasoning, ratiocination > process of inferring, inference > [noun] > product of inferring, an inference
consequentc1374
corollaryc1374
conclusion1399
consequencec1400
inductionc1440
collection1529
sequel1565
consectary1588
inference1612
sequence1614
ratiocinationc1620
introduction1632
upshot1639
sequency1642
consequency1651
deducible1654
consequentiala1734
generalization1794
educt1816
sequitur1836
1794 G. Adams Lect. Nat. & Exper. Philos. IV. li. 475 All physical laws, not excepting even those of gravity, are only generalisations.
1794 J. Hutton Diss. Philos. Light 234 Here then is a generalisation of many facts respecting light and heat.
1804 Ann. Rev. & Hist. Lit. 1803 2 254 His generalizations, or theoretical inferences, are numerous and very ingenious.
1825 Times 23 July 2/5 It would have been useful..to have guarded his mind from some of the generalizations in which he indulges.
1840 J. S. Mill Diss. & Disc. (1875) I. 404 All knowledge consists of generalizations.
1885 F. Temple Relations Relig. & Sci. i. 9 The doctrine..had been a fair generalization and expression of the facts.
1930 Polit. Sci. Q. 65 341 This was a generalization which attempted to express the relation between the amount of income and the number of its recipients.
1938 N. Marshall in R. D. Charques Footnotes to Theatre 110 Gerald du Maurier is another obvious example which can be cited against such a generalisation about actor-producers.
1990 J. Morrow Only Begotten Daughter (1991) ii. xi. 189 He chided his own tendency toward bombast and sweeping generalizations.
2007 Sci. Amer (U.K. ed.) Nov. 11/2 Engineers make no generalizations about types [of bridge] especially prone to sudden collapse.
2. The process of making or becoming general or widespread; (Medicine) the spread of infection or tumour within the body.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > kind or sort > generality > [noun] > generality or prevalence > process of becoming
generalization1794
1794 R. Southey Let. 7 Sept. (1965) I. 75 We preached Pantisocracy and Aspheterism..two new words, the first signifying the equal government of all—and the other—the generalization of individual property.
1825 J. P. Thomas My Thought Bk. 352 The common dogma that the arguments of unbelievers are dangerous to the common people is singularly applied to the present age, when the generalisation of education exists.
1855 Times 3 Dec. 7/1 The former [sc. Revolutionaries] see in the termination of the war the abrupt suspension, if not annihilation, of their long cherished hopes of the generalisation of the war all over Europe.
1880 Lancet 20 Nov. 804 I prefer to regard two of them as deaths from generalisation of the tumour.
1897 T. C. Allbutt et al. Syst. Med. III. 71 The generalisation of an infective disease which in most instances remains localised may be due..to the dissemination of the specific organism.
1961 A. S. MacNalty Brit. Med. Dict. 1292/1 Septicaemia..should be distinguished from bacteraemia in which organisms appear in the blood without the severe rapid generalization of infection characteristic of septicaemia.
2001 M. Salman Embarrassment of Slavery 268 Benedict Anderson's analyses of the rapid generalization of nationalism do suggest the outlines of a parallel transformation in the sociopolitical forms of group belonging.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2009; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1761