overgeneralize

verb

over·gen·er·al·ize ˌō-vər-ˈje-nə-rə-ˌlīz

-ˈjen-rə-

overgeneralized; overgeneralizing

: to generalize excessively: such as

intransitive : to make excessively vague or general statements about something or someone

Of course, I am guilty here of grossly overgeneralizing, of caricaturing.—

Peter Oliver

transitive + intransitive : to generalize to the point of inaccuracy : to extrapolate a general theory, rule, etc. from too few facts or particulars

overgeneralizes from the results of a limited study

Since the needs of a low vision person and of a blind person can be very different, it is important not to overgeneralize the nature of visual impairment.—

Roberto Manduchi and James Coughlan

intransitive : to apply a rule of language too broadly

At a certain stage of language growth, children characteristically overgeneralize: They say sleeped instead of slept, brang (on the analogy of sang) instead of brought, and so forth.—

Noam Chomsky

overgeneralization

ˌō-vər-ˌjen-rə-lə-ˈzā-shən

-ˌje-nə-

noun

plural overgeneralizations

… indulge in overgeneralization from fuzzy facts, or when facts are missing. —

Hy Ruchlis

… stereotypical overgeneralizations about the sexes … —

Nadine Taub and Elizabeth M. Schneider

Examples of overgeneralize in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

What Woody Woodpecker Can Teach Us About Football Don’t overgeneralize about 2.5 billion people. —

Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 22 Oct. 2011

Word History

First Known Use

1851, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of overgeneralize was in 1851

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Overgeneralize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overgeneralize. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Copy Citation