generalization

English

Alternative forms

• generalisation

Etymology

general +‎ -ization

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -eɪʃən

Noun

generalization (countable and uncountable, plural generalizations)

1. The formulation of general concepts from specific instances by abstracting common properties.
2. Inductive reasoning from detailed facts to general principles.
3. An oversimplified or exaggerated conception, opinion, or image of the members of a group.
4. (mathematics) A proof, axiom, problem, or definition which includes another's cases, and also some additional cases.

   A hypersphere is a generalization of a sphere across more than three dimensions.

Synonyms

• (formulation of general concepts): universalization; see also Thesaurus:generalization

Antonyms

• (formulation of general concepts): specialization; see also Thesaurus:specialization

See also

• stereotype

Translations

formulation of general concepts

• Catalan: generalització (ca) f
• Danish: generalisering c
• Dutch: generalisatie (nl)
• Finnish: yleistäminen (fi)
• French: généralisation (fr) f
• Galician: xeneralización (gl) f
• German: Verallgemeinerung (de) f, Generalisierung f
• Macedonian: обопштување n (obopštuvanje), генерализација f (generalizacija)
• Malay: penyeluruhan, generalisasi, pengitlakan (ms)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Polish: uogólnienie (pl) n, generalizacja f
• Portuguese: generalização (pt) f
• Romanian: generalizare (ro) f
• Russian: обобще́ние (ru) n (obobščénije), генерализа́ция (ru) f (generalizácija)
• Scottish Gaelic: ginearalachadh m
• Slovene: posplošitev f
• Spanish: generalización (es) f
• Swedish: generalisering (sv) c

inductive reasoning

• Catalan: generalització (ca) f
• Czech: generalizace f, zobecnění n
• Danish: generalisering c
• Finnish: yleistys (fi), yleistäminen (fi)
• French: généralisation (fr) f
• Galician: xeneralización (gl) f
• German: Verallgemeinerung (de) f, Generalisierung f
• Macedonian: обопштување n (obopštuvanje), генерализација f (generalizacija)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Malay: penyeluruhan, generalisasi, pengitlakan (ms)
• Polish: uogólnienie (pl) n, generalizacja f
• Portuguese: generalização (pt) f
• Romanian: generalizare (ro) f
• Russian: обобще́ние (ru) n (obobščénije), генерализа́ция (ru) f (generalizácija)
• Scottish Gaelic: ginearalachadh m
• Spanish: generalización (es) f
• Swedish: generalisering (sv) c

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Translations to be checked

• German: (linguistics): Bedeutungserweiterung (de), Bedeutungsverallgemeinerung
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Irish: ^{(please verify)} teoiric ghinearálta f

Further reading

• “generalization”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.