Word Explorer

General

/ˈd͡ʒɛnɹəl/

A general fact or proposition; a generality.

Full Dictionary Entry

📖 Definitions of "General"

noun

1
A general fact or proposition; a generality.
"We have dealt with the generals; now let us turn to the particulars."
2
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.
3
A great strategist or tactician.
"Hannibal was one of the greatest generals of the ancient world."
4
The head of certain religious orders, especially Dominicans or Jesuits.

verb

1
To lead (soldiers) as a general.

adjective

1
Including or involving every part or member of a given or implied entity, whole etc.; as opposed to specific or particular.
2
(sometimes postpositive) 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.
3
Prevalent or widespread among a given class or area; common, usual.
4
Not limited in use or application; applicable to the whole or every member of a class or category.

adverb

1
In a general or collective manner or sense; in most cases; upon the whole.

🔄 Synonyms of "General"

30 synonyms found via WordNet and Google Books.

Word	Definition
comprehensivenoun	Broadly or completely covering; including a large proportion of something.
pervasive	Manifested throughout; pervading, permeating, penetrating or affecting everything.
broadnoun	Wide in extent or scope.
commonnoun	Occurring or happening regularly or frequently; usual.
plainnoun	Simple, unaltered.
massnoun	(physical) Matter, material.
universalnoun	Common to all members of a group or class.
grossnoun	(of an amount) Excluding any deductions; including all associated amounts.
cosmopolitannoun	Inclusive; affecting the whole world.
overallnoun	Generally; with everything considered.
pervading	spread throughout
genericnoun	(pharmacology) Of a product or drug, not having a brand name; nonproprietary in design or contents; fungible with the rest of its class.
popularnoun	Liked by many people; generally pleasing, widely admired.
ecumenical	(ecclesiastical) Pertaining to the universal Church, representing the entire Christian world; interdenominational; sometimes by extension, interreligious.
widespread	Affecting, or found throughout, a large area (e.g. the entire land or body); broad in extent; widely diffused.
imprecise	Not precise or exact; containing some error or uncertainty.
unvaried	not varied; monotonous or homogeneous; samely
systemic	Embedded within and spread throughout and affecting a whole system, group, body, economy, market, or society.
miscellaneous	Consisting of a variety of ingredients or parts.
worldwide	Throughout the world.
oecumenical	Alternative spelling of ecumenical. [(ecclesiastical) Pertaining to the universal Church, representing the entire Christian world; interdenominational; sometimes by extension, interreligious.]
generalized	Made more general, less specialized.
large-scale	Large in amount, scope or extent.
undiversified	Not diversified.
unspecific	(nonstandard) Synonym of nonspecific (“not specific”).

↔️ Antonyms of "General"

Words with the opposite meaning.

Word	Definition
particularnoun	Specific; discrete; concrete.
specificnoun	Explicit or definite.
localnoun	From or in a nearby location.

💡 Words with a Similar Meaning to "General"

Found via reverse dictionary — words that share a conceptual meaning.

Word	Definition
genericnoun	(pharmacology) Of a product or drug, not having a brand name; nonproprietary in design or contents; fungible with the rest of its class.
general-purpose	For general purposes; all-purpose.
generalized	Made more general, less specialized.
all-purpose	For all purposes; general-purpose.
in general	As a rule; usually.
overallnoun	Generally; with everything considered.
comprehensivenoun	Broadly or completely covering; including a large proportion of something.
widespread	Affecting, or found throughout, a large area (e.g. the entire land or body); broad in extent; widely diffused.
systemic	Embedded within and spread throughout and affecting a whole system, group, body, economy, market, or society.
at-large	Alternative spelling of at large.
popularnoun	Liked by many people; generally pleasing, widely admired.
unvaried	not varied; monotonous or homogeneous; samely
broadnoun	Wide in extent or scope.
pervasive	Manifested throughout; pervading, permeating, penetrating or affecting everything.
commonnoun	Occurring or happening regularly or frequently; usual.
miscellaneousnoun	Consisting of a variety of ingredients or parts.
large-scale	Large in amount, scope or extent.
massnoun	(physical) Matter, material.
cosmopolitannoun	Inclusive; affecting the whole world.
worldwide	Throughout the world.