overgeneralizev.
/ˌəʊvəˈdʒɛn(ə)rəlʌɪz/, /ˌəʊvəˈdʒɛn(ə)rl̩ʌɪz/, U.S. /ˌoʊvərˈdʒɛn(ə)r(ə)ˌlaɪz/ intransitive. To draw a conclusion from, or make a statement about, data, circumstances, etc., which is more general than is justified by the available evidence. Also transitive: to draw too general a conclusion from (data, circumstances, etc.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > kind or sort > generality > be generally applicable [verb (intransitive)] > generalize from inadequate evidence
overgeneralize1851
the world > relative properties > kind or sort > generality > give a general character to [verb (transitive)] > generalize from inadequate evidence
overgeneralize1851
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > lack of reasoning, illogicality > conclude falsely [verb (intransitive)]
to reckon (count) without (before) one's host1490
misconclude1636
overgeneralize1851
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > lack of reasoning, illogicality > conclude too generally [verb (transitive)]
overgeneralize1851
the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > misinterpretation > misinterpret [verb (intransitive)] > as conclusion
misconclude1636
overgeneralize1851
the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > misinterpretation > misinterpret [verb (transitive)] > conclude wrongly
overgeneralize1851
1851 Jrnl. Royal Agric. Soc. 12 ii. 452 Some who..appropriated his discoveries, over-generalised his over-generalisations.
1930 Amer. Econ. Rev. 20 666 One must not over-generalize any such scale-values, however, unless he knows that his group is representative of the public at large.
1937 Mind 46 243 He over-generalises. For example, he claims that implicit is superior to explicit comparison.
1982 S. B. Flexner Listening to Amer. 211 One might overgeneralize and say we tend to make all vowels shorter or flatter than the English.
2002 Edmonton (Alberta) Jrnl. 23 Feb. b3 People have to be careful not to overgeneralize and assume all people with fetal alcohol syndrome are criminals.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
v.1851