What does generalisation mean?
Generalisation means the act of moving from particular facts, examples, or observations to a broader statement about a whole class of cases. In everyday use, it often describes a conclusion that applies widely but may leave out important distinctions or exceptions. A generalisation can be a useful preliminary principle, especially in academic, scientific, or professional contexts, but it can also be misleading when the available evidence is too limited or the scope of the claim is too broad. The word is related to general and generality and can refer both to the process of reasoning in broad terms and to the resulting broad statement. In careful argument, generalisation is often presented as something to test against evidence rather than reject outright: good generalisations preserve meaningful common features while acknowledging variation. The related term overgeneralisation specifically identifies a conclusion that goes beyond what the evidence supports.
nounThe act of making a statement or judgment that applies broadly, without focusing on the specific details of every case. It can also refer to a broad principle or conclusion drawn from particular examples.
- A broad statement or principle that applies to a range of cases without addressing every individual detail.
- The process of forming such a statement or principle from particular examples or observations.
"Her initial generalisation about rural communities proved too sweeping to account for the diversity of local experiences."
"The report moves from a close analysis of individual interviews to a striking generalisation about the nature of urban life."
"It would be a dangerous generalisation to assume that every member of the audience responded in the same way."
The plural is generalisations in British English and generalizations in American English.
"The lecturer distinguished carefully between several useful generalisations and a series of unsupported claims."
One word can cross the Atlantic without changing its meaning, exchanging its s for a z: British generalisation, American generalization.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does generalisation come from?
Generalisation is a 19th-century English noun formed from generalise, or general plus the suffix -isation, meaning the action or process of making something general. Its deeper roots lie in Latin generalis, meaning “of the whole” or “general,” which is related to genus, meaning “kind.” The same Latin family produced cognates such as generality, generic, general, and genus.
Related word forms
How generalisation is actually used
Generalisation is neutral when it describes the ordinary process of drawing broad conclusions, but it can sound critical when a generalisation is excessively broad or insufficiently supported. British English generally uses the -s form, while American English uses -z.
Easily confused with generalisation
Generalisation is the standard British spelling, while generalization is the standard American spelling; both ordinarily have the same meaning.