General Definition and Meaning
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Published on March 8, 2024
General refers to something that is widespread, common, or not specific to any one thing or person. e.g., The general consensus among the group was to proceed with the plan.
Table of Contents
General Definitions
Without detail, broad in statement.
She spoke in general terms about her plans.
Relating to the main or overall aspects, not detailed.
He gave a general overview of the project.
Not precise or specific; vague.
He had a general idea of what he wanted to do.
Referring to the main part or majority.
The general mood at the party was festive.
Common to many or most people or things.
It's a general rule to say please and thank you.
Not specialized or limited to one class.
She has a general interest in all science subjects.
Applicable to all cases or situations.
As a general principle, honesty is the best policy.
A rank in the military, above colonel.
The general led his troops to victory.
Broad or widespread in scope or application.
There was general agreement on the need for change.
Involving or affecting the majority.
The general population supported the new law.
Concerned with, applicable to, or affecting the whole or every member of a class or category
"subduing all her impressions as a woman, to something more general" (Virginia Woolf).
Affecting or characteristic of the majority of those involved; prevalent
General discontent.
Of or affecting the entire body
General paralysis.
Being usually the case; true or applicable in most instances but not all
The general correctness of her decisions.
Not limited in scope, area, or application
As a general rule.
Not limited to or dealing with one class of things; diversified
General studies.
Involving only the main features rather than precise details
A general grasp of the subject.
Highest or superior in rank
The general manager.
A commissioned rank in the US Army, Air Force, or Marine Corps that is above lieutenant general.
One who holds this rank or a similar rank in another military organization.
A general officer.
A statement, principle, or fact that embraces or is applicable to the whole.
General anesthesia.
(Archaic) The public.
Including or involving every part or member of a given or implied entity, whole etc.; as opposed to specific or particular.
Applied to a person (as a postmodifier or a normal preceding adjective) to indicate supreme rank, in civil or military titles, and later in other terms; pre-eminent.
Prevalent or widespread among a given class or area; common, usual.
Not limited in use or application; applicable to the whole or every member of a class or category.
Giving or consisting of only the most important aspects of something, ignoring minor details; indefinite.
Not limited to a specific class; miscellaneous, concerned with all branches of a given subject or area.
A general fact or proposition; a generality.
We have dealt with the generals; now let us turn to the particulars.
(military ranks) The holder of a senior military title, originally designating the commander of an army and now a specific rank falling under field marshal (in the British army) and below general of the army or general of the air force in the US army and air forces.
A great strategist or tactician.
Hannibal was one of the greatest generals of the ancient world.
(Christianity) The head of certain religious orders, especially Dominicans or Jesuits.
(nautical) A commander of naval forces; an admiral.
A general servant; a maid with no specific duties.
(countable) A general anesthetic.
(uncountable) General anesthesia.
The general insurance industry.
I work in general.
(xiangqi) A xiangqi piece, that is moved one point orthogonally and confined within the palace.
To lead (soldiers) as a general.
(obsolete) In a general or collective manner or sense; in most cases; upon the whole.
Relating to a genus or kind; pertaining to a whole class or order; as, a general law of animal or vegetable economy.
Comprehending many species or individuals; not special or particular; including all particulars; as, a general inference or conclusion.
Not restrained or limited to a precise import; not specific; vague; indefinite; lax in signification; as, a loose and general expression.
Common to many, or the greatest number; widely spread; prevalent; extensive, though not universal; as, a general opinion; a general custom.
This general applause and cheerful shoutArgue your wisdom and your love to Richard.
Having a relation to all; common to the whole; as, Adam, our general sire.
As a whole; in gross; for the most part.
His general behavior vain, ridiculous.
Usual; common, on most occasions; as, his general habit or method.
The whole; the total; that which comprehends or relates to all, or the chief part; - opposed to particular.
In particulars our knowledge begins, and so spreads itself by degrees to generals.
One of the chief military officers of a government or country; the commander of an army, of a body of men not less than a brigade. In European armies, the highest military rank next below field marshal.
The roll of the drum which calls the troops together; as, to beat the general.
The chief of an order of monks, or of all the houses or congregations under the same rule.
The public; the people; the vulgar.
A general officer of the highest rank
The head of a religious order or congregation
A fact about the whole (as opposed to particular);
He discussed the general but neglected the particular
He always reasons from the particular to the general
Command as a general;
We are generaled by an incompetent!
Applying to all or most members of a category or group;
The general public
General assistance
A general rule
In general terms
Comprehensible to the general reader
Not specialized or limited to one class of things;
General studies
General knowledge
Of national scope;
A general election
Prevailing among and common to the general public;
The general discontent
Affecting the entire body;
A general anesthetic
General symptoms
Somewhat indefinite;
Bearing a general resemblance to the original
A general description of the merchandise
Of worldwide scope or applicability;
An issue of cosmopolitan import
The shrewdest political and ecumenical comment of our time
Universal experience
General Snonyms
Universal
Pertaining to or affecting the whole.
There is a universal desire for peace.
Global
Relating to the whole world.
They are working towards global peace.
Broad
Having a wide scope or extent.
She had a broad understanding of the subject.
Common
Occurring, found, or done often; prevalent.
Cold is a common ailment.
Widespread
Found or distributed over a large area or number of people.
The practice is widespread among the community.
Overall
Taking everything into account.
The overall costs have increased.
Blanket
Applying to all cases or instances.
A blanket ban on smoking was enforced.
Generic
Characteristic of or relating to a class or group of things; not specific.
Generic brands can provide good value.
Comprehensive
Complete; including all or nearly all elements or aspects.
They offer a comprehensive range of services.
All-encompassing
Including everything or everyone; comprehensive.
The documentary provides an all-encompassing view of the war.
General Idioms & Phrases
General assembly
A large meeting or gathering, often of all members of an organization.
The annual general assembly of the club is scheduled for next month.
General election
An election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen.
The general election will determine the next president.
In general
Referring to the whole group or situation, not specific parts.
In general, the class performed well on the exam.
General admission
Entry that is not reserved and is available to anyone.
The concert tickets were general admission, so we had to arrive early to get good seats.
General delivery
A service where mail is held at a post office for pickup.
He used general delivery to receive mail while traveling.
General manager
The executive who has overall responsibility for managing both the revenue and cost elements of a company.
The general manager will make the final decision on this issue.
General-purpose
Designed for a variety of uses or functions.
She bought a general-purpose cleaner for the house.
General quarters
A naval command for all hands to prepare for battle.
The captain ordered general quarters when the enemy ship was spotted.
General theory
A theory that is applicable in a wide range of contexts.
Einstein's general theory of relativity revolutionized physics.
General studies
An academic program focusing on a broad range of subjects.
He chose general studies to explore various disciplines before specializing.
General knowledge
Information that is known by many people, not specialized.
Quizzes often test your general knowledge of the world.
General welfare
The well-being of the public as a whole.
The new law was enacted for the general welfare of the citizens.
General fund
The main financial account of a government or organization.
The city's general fund is used for various public services.
General practice
A medical practice involving a wide range of healthcare issues.
She decided to specialize in general practice to help a broader range of patients.
General ledger
The main accounting record of a company or organization.
The accountant updates the general ledger every month.
General strike
A strike involving all workers in a particular geographic location or industry.
The union called for a general strike to demand better wages.
General Example Sentences
He had a general understanding of the topic.
They issued a general warning about the storm.
The general trend in fashion is moving towards sustainability.
The general mood of the meeting was optimistic.
In general, the feedback was positive.
The general consensus is that we need to act now.
The general area was cordoned off by the police.
We're looking for a general solution that everyone can use.
The general theme of the conference was innovation.
She made some general comments about the report.
He's known for his general knowledge of history.
The book is aimed at the general public.
The general direction of the company is towards expansion.
Her interests are very general, not focused on anything specific.
In general, people tend to avoid conflict.
Common Curiosities
What is a stressed syllable in general?
The stressed syllable in general is the first syllable: gen.
Why is it called general?
General comes from the Latin word "generalis," which means relating to all, whole, or universal. It signifies something applicable broadly rather than being specific or detailed.
How do we divide general into syllables?
General is divided into syllables as gen-er-al.
How is general used in a sentence?
General is used as an adjective to describe something applicable or relevant on a broad scale, e.g., She had a general idea of what was happening.
What is the root word of general?
The root word of general is the Latin "generalis," meaning relating to all or universal.
What part of speech is general?
General is primarily used as an adjective, but it can also be a noun, especially in a military context.
What is another term for general?
Another term for general could be "broad" or "widespread" when used as an adjective.
What is the pronunciation of general?
General is pronounced as /ˈdʒɛnərəl/.
How many syllables are in general?
General has three syllables.
What is the singular form of general?
The singular form is "general," applicable both as an adjective and as a noun.
Is general an adverb?
No, general is not used as an adverb.
What is the verb form of general?
General does not have a conventional verb form in its usage relating to being widespread or common. However, "generalize" can be considered a related verb form, meaning to make or become general.
Is general a countable noun?
When used as a noun in a military context (referring to a rank), it is countable (e.g., there are three generals).
Which determiner is used with general?
Determiners like "the," "a," or possessive pronouns can be used with general, depending on the context.
What is the opposite of general?
The opposite of general could be "specific," "particular," or "detailed."
Is general a collective noun?
General is not typically used as a collective noun.
Is general a noun or adjective?
General can be both a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.
Is the word “general” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
The word "general" can serve as a direct object when it is a noun, e.g., "They respected the general." It typically does not function as an indirect object.
Which vowel is used before general?
The article "a" is used before general, as it begins with a consonant sound.
Which article is used with general?
Both "the" and "a" can be used with general, depending on whether it is being used in a specific or nonspecific context.
What is the plural form of general?
The plural form, when used as a noun (in a military context), is "generals."
Is general an abstract noun?
When used as a noun, general is not typically abstract; it usually refers to a concrete rank in the military. However, in some contexts, it can have a more abstract sense, such as "the general good."
Is general a negative or positive word?
General is neutral; it is neither inherently negative nor positive.
Is the general term a metaphor?
The term general can be used metaphorically in some contexts, implying something broad or widespread.
Is the word general imperative?
As an adjective or noun, general is not used in the imperative mood, which applies to verbs.
Is general a vowel or consonant?
The word general starts with a consonant.
Is the word general a Gerund?
No, general is not a gerund as it is not derived from a verb.
Which preposition is used with general?
Prepositions such as "in," "of," and "about" can be used with general, depending on the context.
Which conjunction is used with general?
Conjunctions like "and," "but," or "or" can be used with general, depending on the sentence structure.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
