Thesaurus results for GENERALIZATION

generalization

noun

ˌjen-rə-lə-ˈzā-shən

Definition of generalization

as in stereotype

an idea or statement about all of the members of a group or all the instances of a situation the generalization that children who like violent entertainment grow up to be violent criminals

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of generalization But to make some generalization that all career women are psychotic because Glenn Close happened to be psychotic at the end of that movie is just silly. — Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026 At last week’s meeting, though, Warsh spoke largely in platitudes and generalizations. — John Cassidy, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026 So solving this generalization gap is key to maintaining its status as today’s market champion. — Charlie Campbell, Time, 23 July 2026 Some called out the statement for making sweeping generalizations about Phish fans, especially when most of the crowd was all kind vibes. — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 14 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for generalization

Recent Examples of Synonyms for generalization

Noun

Davis shared her thoughts alongside a side-by-side comparison of the costume with 19th-century minstrel imagery, which perpetuated racist stereotypes about Black Americans and involved the use of blackface.

— Daysia Tolentino, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Aug. 2026
Some of the companies illustrating this point hardly fit the stereotype of progressive corporate activism.

— Scott M. Curran, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of stereotype

Noun

While the concept was conceived decades ago, a public demonstration of a system that does not rely on GPS signals or any other special installation infrastructure has not been achieved till now.

— Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026
The Fish Market is a seafood spot with a sea-to-table concept—guests can select their own seafood, which is then cooked with Maldivian flavors and ingredients.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of concept

Noun

None of these ideas were invented by Instagram or by women alone; the concept of the attention economy dates to the early 1970s, and the notion that no press is bad press has existed since the 19th century.

— Laura Jung, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2026
What’s most difficult about this is the notion it was never supposed to be this way.

— Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of notion

Noun

The move would have been difficult to imagine under the traditional conception of college sports.

— Joshua Hong, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026
From one vantage, Kardashian’s path to global superstardom was borne by a perfect storm of time, place, person, and opportunity—a convergence of the smartphone, social media, reality TV, and the changing conception of what constitutes a celebrity.

— Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of conception

Noun

The lipstick index is an economic theory holding that sales of affordable discretionary spending or luxuries skyrocket when consumers believe an economic recession is impending.

— Sarah Glodek, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026
Yet Turing’s theory of computation wasn’t really about computers, at least not at first.

— Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of theory

Browse Nearby Words

generality

generalization

generalizations

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Generalization.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/generalization. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of generalization

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on generalization

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

conscientious

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes