generalized
Pronunciation: [ˈdʒɛnəˌlaɪzd]
Word
Context: “abstraction”
(verb) to change something specific into a more general idea or statement. It means looking at the bigger picture instead of focusing on the details. For example, saying all birds can fly is a generalized idea, not considering that some birds can't.
Example
The teacher generalized the students' feedback to show common themes in the survey.
Example
She did not generalize her findings, choosing to focus on the unique cases instead.
Example
Can you generalize the results of this experiment to other situations?
Context: “characteristic”
(adjective) something that is not specific and can apply to many things or people. For instance, if we say 'generalized anxiety', it means feelings of worry that many different people can experience, rather than specific worries someone might have.
Example
His symptoms were labeled as generalized, affecting his mood and energy levels overall.
Example
This diagnosis is not generalized; it only applies to her particular condition.
Example
Is this feeling you're experiencing more generalized or specific to one situation?
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