Definition of generalizationnext
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

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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 Of course, if the AI does generalize, the difficulty is that the AI generalizations about mental health might be off base. Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026 Start with an abstract generalization of the integers called a ring. Konstantin Kakaes, Quanta Magazine, 20 May 2026 This streamlined, mapless approach improves the vehicle’s urban generalization capabilities for the self-driving system to adapt to cross-city and even cross-border deployments. Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 19 May 2026 Most leaders can’t afford to wait weeks for insights that could inform their next move, and can revert to relying on generalizations to guide them as a result. Alex Cooper, Fortune, 16 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for generalization
Recent Examples of Synonyms for generalization
Noun
  • For decades, African football has faced criticism and skepticism, often based on unfounded racial stereotypes.
    PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026
  • News stories about depression can either reinforce outdated stereotypes or normalize seeking care.
    Brian Castrucci, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Noun
  • The building’s second floor will house a full-service restaurant, though the concept has not been finalized, and the third floor will function as a rooftop bar.
    Henri Hollis, AJC.com, 4 July 2026
  • The dog park and bar concept, owned by Free Range Concepts, also shut down its Dallas and Allen locations.
    Jake Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 July 2026
Noun
  • Those seeking to stop the roundup reject almost all of the federal agencies’ claims, from the size of the herd to the notion that the horses cause ecological damage.
    Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
  • The decision in the Wong Kim Ark case was so widely accepted that even in periods of great hostility to immigrants, the notion of birthright citizenship remained untouchable.
    Nina Totenberg, NPR, 30 June 2026
Noun
  • At the time of Sealand’s conception, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) controlled the airwaves in the United Kingdom, playing popular music only late in the night.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 June 2026
  • Legal preparation is so important before conception, birth, or placement.
    Morgan Mouchette, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Noun
  • Germ theory also emerged in the late 1800s, in which scientists discovered that germs caused disease.
    Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
  • The two budding geniuses would sit in Charles’ apartment for hours, talking music theory and analyzing records, though Jones’s curiosity occasionally exhausted Charles.
    Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 3 July 2026

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“Generalization.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/generalization. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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