Dictionary

generality en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˌd͡ʒɛn.əˈɹæl.ə.ti/ (Canada, US)
• [ˌd͡ʒɛn.əˈɹæl.ə.ɾi] (Canada, US)
• [ˌd͡ʒen.əˈɹæl.ə.ɾi] (Australia)
• (US) audio
• /ˌd͡ʒen.əˈɹæl.ə.ti/ (Australia)
• /ˌd͡ʒɛn.əˈɹæl.ɪ.ti/ (UK)

Etymology

From Middle English generalite, from Anglo-Norman and Middle French generalité (modern French généralité), from general + -ité; also influenced by Latin generālitās. By surface analysis, general + -ity.

Meanings

1. (uncountable) The quality of being general.
2. (uncountable) The population in general.
   • "You must not come to me," answered her listener, "for a defence of society; I have long since loathed its bitterness as much as I despise its baseness. You cannot know the miserably mean motives that actuate the generality; but the trifles so sought give their own narrowness to the mind." 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “Asking for an Invitation”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume III, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 25:
3. (countable) A generalization.
   • He was very vague, speaking only in generalities.

Forms

Deriveds

without loss of generality · glowing generality · glittering generality · overgenerality

Synonyms

oftenness (quality of being general)

Translations (13)

ka გაურკვევლობა (quality) · fi yleistys (generalization) · gl xeneralidade (quality) · bg общоприложимост (quality) · ka განუსაზღვრელობა (quality) · bg обобщение (generalization) · es generalidad (quality) · fi epämääräisyys (quality) · ru обобще́ние (generalization) · ka განზოგადება (generalization) · bg генералност (quality) · fi ylimalkaisuus (quality) · ka ზოგადობა (quality)