general
JEHN-ruhl
General (adj) means applying to or covering a whole group rather than one specific part; overall. Example: “The report gives a general overview of the company's finances.”
adj
1
Applying to or covering a whole group rather than one specific part; overall.
"The report gives a general overview of the company's finances."
"There was general agreement that the plan needed more funding."
"The general rule at our school is that phones stay in your bag."
2
Not detailed or specific; broad rather than precise.
"He only gave a general description of the suspect."
"Can you give me a general idea of how long the journey takes?"
"Her answers were very general, so we still did not know the details."
3
Common or widespread among a group, rather than rare.
"It's a general belief among fans that the team will win this year."
"There is a general feeling in the village that the shop should reopen."
"Colds are a general problem for children during the winter months."
noun
1
A senior military officer who commands large groups of troops.
"The general ordered the troops to retreat."
"She was promoted to general after decades of service."
"The general studied the map carefully before meeting his officers in the tent."
How to use general
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCovering the whole of something, or true most of the time, rather than one exact detail.
Common mistake
As a noun, "general" is a specific military rank, not just any officer — don't use it loosely for any commander.
Common pairings
in general
general public
general knowledge
a four-star general
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- generals
- Past tense
- generalled, generaled
- Comparative
- more general
- Superlative
- most general
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The report gives a _____ overview of the company's finances.
Etymology
From Latin generalis ("relating to a whole class or kind"), from genus ("kind, class") — the same root behind "genre" and "genus".
Synonyms
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overall
broad
widespread
common
universal
collective
sweeping
blanket
full general
superior general
cosmopolitan
ecumenical
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for general
feral
literal
liberal
funeral
lateral
mineral
federal
several
visceral
ephemeral
bilateral
collateral
See all rhymes for general →
Frequently asked questions
What does “general” mean?
The word “general” means applying to or covering a whole group rather than one specific part; overall. In plain terms, covering the whole of something, or true most of the time, rather than one exact detail.
How do you pronounce “general”?
“General” is pronounced JEHN-ruhl (/ˈd͡ʒɛn.(ə.)ɹəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “general” in a sentence?
Here is “general” used in a sentence: “The report gives a general overview of the company's finances.”
What part of speech is “general”?
Depending on how it is used, “general” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “general” come from?
The word “general” comes from Latin. From Latin generalis ("relating to a whole class or kind"), from genus ("kind, class") — the same root behind "genre" and "genus".
Is “general” a common word?
“General” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “general” have?
“General” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: applying to or covering a whole group rather than one specific part; overall.
What is the difference between 'general' and 'specific'?
General describes something that applies broadly, to a whole group or on the whole, without going into detail. Specific is its opposite: precise, particular, and focused on one exact case. A 'general rule' covers most situations, while a 'specific rule' targets one. General gives the big picture; specific fills in the fine detail.
What does 'in general' mean?
'In general' means 'usually' or 'on the whole,' describing what is true most of the time rather than in every single case. For example, 'In general, the trains run on time' allows for occasional exceptions. It is a way to make a broad statement while quietly acknowledging that details may vary.
What is an example of 'general' used as an adjective?
You might mention a 'general overview,' meaning a broad summary rather than a detailed one, or 'the general public,' meaning people as a whole. Other examples include 'a general idea' and 'general knowledge.' In each case, 'general' signals something wide-ranging and shared rather than narrow, exact, or specialised.
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