adj

general

JEHN-ruhl

adj

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."

Not detailed or specific; broad rather than precise.

"He only gave a general description of the suspect."

Common or widespread among a group, rather than rare.

"It's a general belief among fans that the team will win this year."

noun

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."

How to Use General

Learner’s notes

In 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

more general comparative, generalled past tense, generaled past tense, generals singular, most general superlative

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The report gives a _____ overview of the company's finances.

From Latin generalis ("relating to a whole class or kind"), from genus ("kind, class") — the same root behind "genre" and "genus".

feral liberal funeral lateral mineral federal several visceral ephemeral bilateral collateral unilateral