Generalization
noun
Making a broad idea or statement by inferring from specific cases.
The teacher made a generalization about the behavior of teenagers based on the actions of a few students.
Often appears as...
- make a generalization
- sweeping generalization
noun
In computing, making a general version of a specific system or function.
The use of generalization in object-oriented programming allows for code reuse.
Often appears as...
- generalization in programming
- generalization in systems
Usage tips
Technical
noun
In biology, the theory that complex systems can be understood by simpler, more general rules.
The study explores the application of generalization in understanding neural networks.
Often appears as...
- generalization in biology
- neural generalization
Usage tips
Academic
noun
Making a broad idea or statement by inferring from specific cases.
The teacher made a generalization about the behavior of teenagers based on the actions of a few students.
Often appears as...
- make a generalization
- sweeping generalization
noun
In computing, making a general version of a specific system or function.
The use of generalization in object-oriented programming allows for code reuse.
Often appears as...
- generalization in programming
- generalization in systems
Usage tips
Technical
noun
In biology, the theory that complex systems can be understood by simpler, more general rules.
The study explores the application of generalization in understanding neural networks.
Often appears as...
- generalization in biology
- neural generalization
Usage tips
Academic
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Avoid Stereotyping
Be cautious when using generalizations to avoid promoting stereotypes, as they can be offensive or incorrect.
Saying 'Students are lazy' is an unfair generalization that could perpetuate a stereotype.
Pro Tip 2/3Evidence Support
Support your generalizations with multiple examples or evidence to make them more credible and accurate.
Researchers found that several studies support the generalization that exercise improves mood.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Always True
Recognize that generalizations may not always be true for every individual situation or person.
The generalization that birds can fly doesn't take into account species like ostriches.
Compare with
abstractioncategorizationclassificationinductioninferencesimplificationstereotypic
Never forget "Generalization"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Video examples
Paul Bloom: Can...
And we're very good at this sort of thing because our ability to stereotype people is not some sort of arbitrary quirk of the mind, but rather it's a specific instance of a more general process, which is that we have experience with things and people in the world that fall into categories, and we can use our experience to make generalizations
Video examples
Mining literature for...
refrain from making broad generalizations about a text or establishing quick, simple judgements about a character. Explore each facet of your subject carefully and make sure to consider multiple influences on events. Explain the tension of multiple forces that create the story.
Video examples
Laura Schulz: The...
One is about a problem of generalization, and the other is about a problem of causal reasoning. And although I'm going to talk about work in my lab, this work is inspired by and indebted to a field. I'm grateful to mentors, colleagues, and collaborators around the world.
Video examples
Steven Pinker: Human...
who did research on left-handers, and published some data showing that left-handers are, on average, more susceptible to disease, more prone to accidents and have a shorter lifespan. It's not clear, by the way, since then, whether that is an accurate generalization,
Video examples
4 signs of emotional...
to make these behaviors and patterns easier to spot in real life. First, the content of someone’s criticism that’s out of proportion to a situation, excessively harsh or personal, or makes sweeping generalizations or baseless negative predictions for the future
Video examples
The real reason for...
robot to do a different task that's another three-year PhD program there is no generalization at all from one task to another in robotics now we can compare this to cutting-edge human performance so what I'm gonna share is Emily Fox within the world record for
Video examples
Compelling Models for...
causing a lot of animals to go extinct but when we make generalizations about China this vast diverse country it's not helpful even for me I sometimes feel alienated or that I'm being talked about like I'm not there as a visual
Video examples
The politics of fiction...
And only the latter is an artist's responsibility." Identity politics divides us. Fiction connects. One is interested in sweeping generalizations. The other, in nuances. One draws boundaries. The other recognizes no frontiers.
Video examples
How I came to love my...
generalization is that the hijab is the headscarf the niqab is the face veil and a horse is not involved usually and the burqa is the full body cover and it comes with or without the veil so what
Video examples
How to rebuild the...
about the value of gender equality for the future. Bring more women for this world of more crisis ahead of us. It's obviously hard to make generalizations about gender of any kind,
Video examples
Paul Bloom: Can...
And we're very good at this sort of thing because our ability to stereotype people is not some sort of arbitrary quirk of the mind, but rather it's a specific instance of a more general process, which is that we have experience with things and people in the world that fall into categories, and we can use our experience to make generalizations
Video examples
Mining literature for...
refrain from making broad generalizations about a text or establishing quick, simple judgements about a character. Explore each facet of your subject carefully and make sure to consider multiple influences on events. Explain the tension of multiple forces that create the story.
Video examples
Laura Schulz: The...
One is about a problem of generalization, and the other is about a problem of causal reasoning. And although I'm going to talk about work in my lab, this work is inspired by and indebted to a field. I'm grateful to mentors, colleagues, and collaborators around the world.
Video examples
Steven Pinker: Human...
who did research on left-handers, and published some data showing that left-handers are, on average, more susceptible to disease, more prone to accidents and have a shorter lifespan. It's not clear, by the way, since then, whether that is an accurate generalization,
Video examples
4 signs of emotional...
to make these behaviors and patterns easier to spot in real life. First, the content of someone’s criticism that’s out of proportion to a situation, excessively harsh or personal, or makes sweeping generalizations or baseless negative predictions for the future
Video examples
The real reason for...
robot to do a different task that's another three-year PhD program there is no generalization at all from one task to another in robotics now we can compare this to cutting-edge human performance so what I'm gonna share is Emily Fox within the world record for
Video examples
Compelling Models for...
causing a lot of animals to go extinct but when we make generalizations about China this vast diverse country it's not helpful even for me I sometimes feel alienated or that I'm being talked about like I'm not there as a visual
Video examples
The politics of fiction...
And only the latter is an artist's responsibility." Identity politics divides us. Fiction connects. One is interested in sweeping generalizations. The other, in nuances. One draws boundaries. The other recognizes no frontiers.
Video examples
How I came to love my...
generalization is that the hijab is the headscarf the niqab is the face veil and a horse is not involved usually and the burqa is the full body cover and it comes with or without the veil so what
Video examples
How to rebuild the...
about the value of gender equality for the future. Bring more women for this world of more crisis ahead of us. It's obviously hard to make generalizations about gender of any kind,
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Reginald VelJohnson
American Actor
Black lives certainly do matter - that's one thing. But, it's just that in every profession, there are bad, as well as there are good. I think it's wrong to make cops - or any group - out to be the enemy based on a generalization. Stigmas and generalizations about groups are what get this world into such turmoil.
Quote examples
Daniel Lubetzky
Mexican Businessman
I make mistakes daily, letting generalizations creep into my thoughts and negatively affect my behavior. These mistakes have taught me that the first step to successfully choosing kindness is being more mindful about it, letting go of impatience and intolerance along the way.
Quote examples
Seth Gabel
American Actor
I could have been on a path that led to different, more traditional teen romance, and 'Nip/Tuck' shook me loose from any generalization I might have been forced into. It helped me understand I wanted to take on things that were edgier, more challenging and riskier.
Quote examples
Lily Cole
English Actress
As the generalization goes about the art industry, people can be really challenging and thought-provoking in their thinking and questioning the status quo, and it's really important that the status quo can be questioned and that there are people doing that.
Quote examples
O. T. Fagbenle
British Actor
When representation of the LBGT community was much more scarce in the media, I think there was some kind of pressure to encapsulate an entire community in a single character - this can often be a fast track to generalization and stereotypes.
Quote examples
Derek Bok
American Lawyer
The most obvious purpose of college education is to help students acquire information and knowledge by acquainting them with facts, theories, generalizations, principles, and the like. This purpose scarcely requires justification.
Quote examples
Samuel E. Morison
American Historian
Too rigid specialization is almost as bad for a historian's mind, and for his ultimate reputation, as too early an indulgence in broad generalization and synthesis.
Quote examples
Mark Haddon
English Novelist
I think one of the things you have to learn if you're going to create believable characters is never to make generalizations about groups of people.
Quote examples
Marti Noxon
American Writer
The problem with generalizations and judgments, the words we hurl as insults, is that they deny our humanity and our stories.
Quote examples
John Lukacs
Hungarian Historian
Generalizations, like brooms, ought not to stand in a corner forever; they ought to sweep as a matter of course.
Quote examples
Reginald VelJohnson
American Actor
Black lives certainly do matter - that's one thing. But, it's just that in every profession, there are bad, as well as there are good. I think it's wrong to make cops - or any group - out to be the enemy based on a generalization. Stigmas and generalizations about groups are what get this world into such turmoil.
Quote examples
Daniel Lubetzky
Mexican Businessman
I make mistakes daily, letting generalizations creep into my thoughts and negatively affect my behavior. These mistakes have taught me that the first step to successfully choosing kindness is being more mindful about it, letting go of impatience and intolerance along the way.
Quote examples
Seth Gabel
American Actor
I could have been on a path that led to different, more traditional teen romance, and 'Nip/Tuck' shook me loose from any generalization I might have been forced into. It helped me understand I wanted to take on things that were edgier, more challenging and riskier.
Quote examples
Lily Cole
English Actress
As the generalization goes about the art industry, people can be really challenging and thought-provoking in their thinking and questioning the status quo, and it's really important that the status quo can be questioned and that there are people doing that.
Quote examples
O. T. Fagbenle
British Actor
When representation of the LBGT community was much more scarce in the media, I think there was some kind of pressure to encapsulate an entire community in a single character - this can often be a fast track to generalization and stereotypes.
Quote examples
Derek Bok
American Lawyer
The most obvious purpose of college education is to help students acquire information and knowledge by acquainting them with facts, theories, generalizations, principles, and the like. This purpose scarcely requires justification.
Quote examples
Samuel E. Morison
American Historian
Too rigid specialization is almost as bad for a historian's mind, and for his ultimate reputation, as too early an indulgence in broad generalization and synthesis.
Quote examples
Mark Haddon
English Novelist
I think one of the things you have to learn if you're going to create believable characters is never to make generalizations about groups of people.
Quote examples
Marti Noxon
American Writer
The problem with generalizations and judgments, the words we hurl as insults, is that they deny our humanity and our stories.
Quote examples
John Lukacs
Hungarian Historian
Generalizations, like brooms, ought not to stand in a corner forever; they ought to sweep as a matter of course.
Example 1 of 10
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension