generalisation

World English Dictionary

generalization or generalisation (ˌdʒɛnrəlaɪˈzeɪʃən)

—n
1.	a principle, theory, etc, with general application
2.	the act or an instance of generalizing
3.	psychol See also conditioning the evoking of a response learned to one stimulus by a different but similar stimulus
4.	logic the derivation of a general statement from a particular one, formally by prefixing a quantifier and replacing a subject term by a bound variable. If the quantifier is universal (universal generalization) the argument is not in general valid; if it is existential (existential generalization) it is valid
5.	logic any statement ascribing a property to every member of a class (universal generalization) or to one or more members (existential generalization)

generalisation or generalisation

—n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source

WordNet

generalisation
noun
1.	an idea or conclusion having general application; "he spoke in broad generalities" [syn: generalization]
2.	the process of formulating general concepts by abstracting common properties of instances [syn: abstraction]
3.	reasoning from detailed facts to general principles [syn: generalization]
4.	(psychology) transfer of a response learned to one stimulus to a similar stimulus [syn: generalization]

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
Cite This Source

00:10

Generalisation is always a great word to know.

So is callithumpian. Does it mean:

a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.

a fool or simpleton; ninny.

LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...

Matching Quote

"It is unwise to equate scientific activity with what we call reason, poetic activity with what we call imagination. Without the imaginative leap from facts to generalisation, no theoretic discovery in science is made. The poet, on the other hand, must not imagine but reason—that is to say, he must exercise a great deal of consciously directed thought in the selection and rejection of his data: there is a technical logic, a poetic reasoning in his choice of the words, rhythms and images by which a poem's coherence is achieved."

-Cecil Day Lewis

Remove ads like these. Upgrade now!

Partners:Word Bloglines Citysearch The Daily Beast Ask Answers Ask Kids Life123 Sendori Home Advisor

About PRIVACY POLICY Terms API Careers Advertise with Us Contact Us Suggest a Word Help