general
1 of 2adjective
gen·er·al ˈjen-rəl 
ˈje-nə-
1
: involving, applicable to, or affecting the whole
2
: involving, relating to, or applicable to every member of a class, kind, or group
the general equation of a straight line
3
: not confined by specialization or careful limitation
a general outline
4
: belonging to the common nature of a group of like individuals : generic
the general characteristics of a species
5
a
: applicable to or characteristic of the majority of individuals involved : prevalent
the general opinion
b
: concerned or dealing with universal rather than particular aspects
6
: relating to, determined by, or concerned with main elements rather than limited details
bearing a general resemblance to the original
7
: holding superior rank or taking precedence over others similarly titled
the general manager
general
2 of 2noun
1
: something (such as a concept, principle, or statement) that involves or is applicable to the whole
2
: superior general
3
archaic : the general public : people
4
a
: general officer
b
: a commissioned officer in the army, air force, or marine corps who ranks above a lieutenant general and whose insignia is four stars compare admiral
Synonyms
Adjective
- across-the-board
- blanket
- broad-brush
- common
- generic
- global
- overall
- universal
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective They have issued a general warning. The general consensus is that we should go ahead. The witness was able to provide a very general description of the thief. She began her talk with some general observations about the state of the industry. The book provides a good general introduction to the subject. My concerns are all general—nothing specific. The details of the new plan are different, but it's based on the same general concept. My general impression was that things were going well. They were found in the same general area. I'm going in the general direction of the store. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Jaylon Thompson, USA TODAY, 21 Feb. 2023 Vrana played for the Capitals from 2016-17 until the 2021 trade deadline, when Wings general manager Steve Yzerman swung an 11th-hour trade deadline deal that sent Anthony Mantha to the Capitals for Vrana and the Capitals' 2021 first-round pick. —Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press, 20 Feb. 2023 People ran for the exits, and the airport was shut down for 2 1/2 hours, the airport’s general manager Balram Bheodari said during a congressional hearing last year. —Rebecca Santana, Fortune, 20 Feb. 2023 As recently as two years ago, his opinion had not changed, judging from the comments made by Washington Wizards general manager Tommy Sheppard to NBC Sports Washington after trading him to the Lakers in the summer of 2021. —Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2023 People ran for the exits, and the airport was shut down for 2 1/2 hours, the airport’s general manager Balram Bheodari said during a congressional hearing last year. —Rebecca Santana, Anchorage Daily News, 20 Feb. 2023 Orhan Tatar, general manager of the agency AFAD, said 40 aftershocks were of a 5 to 6 magnitude, while one was recorded at 6.6. —Arkansas Online, 20 Feb. 2023 People ran for the exits, and the airport was shut down for 2 1/2 hours, the airport's general manager Balram Bheodari said during a congressional hearing last year. —Rebecca Santana, BostonGlobe.com, 20 Feb. 2023 Evaluations of what preceded in 2022 have been completed, and the clock is ticking for general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell. —Steve Silverman, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2023 Jon Gambrell, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Feb. 2023 But Pakistan instead arrested the former general and put him under house arrest. —Jon Gambrell And Munir Ahmed, Anchorage Daily News, 5 Feb. 2023 Among the resolution’s signatories was Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, a former PNP general who was recently named to a five-person committee that will investigate police officials’ links to the drug trade. —Mark Saludes, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Jan. 2023 His minister of security, a hard-line former general, made threatening remarks about the possibility of military intervention. —Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 23 Jan. 2023 Heinrich Brauss, a former German general now with the German Council on Foreign Relations, argued that defeating Russia in Ukraine is in Germany’s self-interest, because the Ukrainians are fighting for European security. —Erika Solomon, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2023 The former general doesn’t like talking about that era or taking credit for WWP’s turnaround. —Phil Wahba, Fortune, 20 Jan. 2023 One such change has been the dismantling of an urban fortress once occupied by Abdurrashid Dostum, a former army general, vice president and brutal militia leader now living in Turkey. —Pamela Constable, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2023 The story is about Bob Wallace and Phil Davis, who follow a sister act to Vermont and perform at a venue owned by their former commanding general. —John Coffren, Baltimore Sun, 1 Dec. 2022 See More
Adjective
Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson told reporters that the organization will help Toews throughout his recovery. —Jaylon Thompson, USA TODAY, 21 Feb. 2023 Vrana played for the Capitals from 2016-17 until the 2021 trade deadline, when Wings general manager Steve Yzerman swung an 11th-hour trade deadline deal that sent Anthony Mantha to the Capitals for Vrana and the Capitals' 2021 first-round pick. —Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press, 20 Feb. 2023 People ran for the exits, and the airport was shut down for 2 1/2 hours, the airport’s general manager Balram Bheodari said during a congressional hearing last year. —Rebecca Santana, Fortune, 20 Feb. 2023 As recently as two years ago, his opinion had not changed, judging from the comments made by Washington Wizards general manager Tommy Sheppard to NBC Sports Washington after trading him to the Lakers in the summer of 2021. —Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2023 People ran for the exits, and the airport was shut down for 2 1/2 hours, the airport’s general manager Balram Bheodari said during a congressional hearing last year. —Rebecca Santana, Anchorage Daily News, 20 Feb. 2023 Orhan Tatar, general manager of the agency AFAD, said 40 aftershocks were of a 5 to 6 magnitude, while one was recorded at 6.6. —Arkansas Online, 20 Feb. 2023 People ran for the exits, and the airport was shut down for 2 1/2 hours, the airport's general manager Balram Bheodari said during a congressional hearing last year. —Rebecca Santana, BostonGlobe.com, 20 Feb. 2023 Evaluations of what preceded in 2022 have been completed, and the clock is ticking for general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell. —Steve Silverman, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2023 Noun
But Pakistan instead arrested the former general and put him under house arrest. —Jon Gambrell, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Feb. 2023 But Pakistan instead arrested the former general and put him under house arrest. —Jon Gambrell And Munir Ahmed, Anchorage Daily News, 5 Feb. 2023 Among the resolution’s signatories was Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, a former PNP general who was recently named to a five-person committee that will investigate police officials’ links to the drug trade. —Mark Saludes, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Jan. 2023 His minister of security, a hard-line former general, made threatening remarks about the possibility of military intervention. —Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 23 Jan. 2023 Heinrich Brauss, a former German general now with the German Council on Foreign Relations, argued that defeating Russia in Ukraine is in Germany’s self-interest, because the Ukrainians are fighting for European security. —Erika Solomon, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2023 The former general doesn’t like talking about that era or taking credit for WWP’s turnaround. —Phil Wahba, Fortune, 20 Jan. 2023 One such change has been the dismantling of an urban fortress once occupied by Abdurrashid Dostum, a former army general, vice president and brutal militia leader now living in Turkey. —Pamela Constable, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2023 The story is about Bob Wallace and Phil Davis, who follow a sister act to Vermont and perform at a venue owned by their former commanding general. —John Coffren, Baltimore Sun, 1 Dec. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin generalis, from gener-, genus kind, class — more at kin
Noun
derivative of general entry 1
First Known Use
Adjective
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
1550, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing general
Kids Definition
general
1 of 2 adjective gen·er·al ˈjen-(ə-)rəl
1
: involving, applying to, or affecting the whole : not local or partial
a general election
the general body of citizens
2
: relating to or covering all instances
a general conclusion
3
: not specific or in detail
a general outline
4
: common to many
the general custom here
5
: not special : not specialized
a general store
6
: of top rank
general manager
general
2 of 2 noun : a military officer with a rank above that of a colonel
especially : an officer with the rank just above that of a lieutenant general
Medical Definition
general
adjective gen·er·al ˈjen-(ə-)rəl
1
: not confined by specialization or careful limitation
a general surgeon
2
: belonging to the common nature of a group of like individuals
the general characteristics of a species
3
: involving or affecting practically the entire body or organism : not local
general infirmity
Legal Definition
general
adjective gen·er·al ˈjen-rəl, ˈje-nə-
1
: involving, applicable to, or affecting the whole
2
: involving, relating to, or applicable to every member of a class, kind, or group
3
: not confined by specialization or limitation
4
: relating to, determined by, or concerned with main elements rather than limiting details
5
: holding superior rank or taking precedence over others similarly titled
the general manager
general 1 of 2
adjective
1
as in overall
belonging or relating to the whole a general increase in postage rates there's been a general improvement in the economy Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- overall
- generic
- common
- universal
- broad
- global
- widespread
- blanket
- wide
- extensive
- overarching
- collective
- broad-brush
- sweeping
- comprehensive
- wholesale
- across-the-board
- pervasive
- ubiquitous
- full
- aggregate
- worldwide
- complete
- broad-gauged
- planetary
- broadscale
- broad-gauge
- plenary
- inclusionary
- all-embracing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- particular
- individual
- local
- component
- partial
- constituent
- divisional
- regional
- fragmentary
- localized
- sectional
- cross-sectional
2
as in broad
relating to the main elements and not to specific details gave the general impression of being kindhearted a general course of study in American history Synonyms & Similar Words
- overall
- broad
- vague
- nonspecific
- comprehensive
- all-round
- extensive
- wide
- bird's-eye
- all-around
- vast
- inclusive
- absolute
- expansive
- infinite
- sweeping
- nebulous
- panoramic
- unspecified
- boundless
- indeterminate
- nondescript
- unlimited
- unrestricted
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- specific
- detailed
- limited
- molecular
- restricted
- particularized
- explicit
- distinct
- full
- precise
- specified
- delineated
- particular
- comprehensive
- individual
- thorough
- elaborate
- sharp
- mapped (out)
- close-up
- singular
- peculiar
- itemized
- enumerated
- listed
- inventoried
3
as in prevailing
held by or applicable to a majority of the people it was the general opinion that the politician was a liar the general mood of the nation was one of hope and optimism Synonyms & Similar Words
- prevailing
- overall
- public
- popular
- majority
- common
- predominant
- unanimous
- ruling
- usual
- current
- received
- present
- typical
- universal
- vulgar
- household
- contemporary
- dominant
- widespread
- characteristic
- prevalent
- everyday
- communal
- pop
- familiar
- pervasive
- preponderant
- well-known
- shared
- rife
- pandemic
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- special
- unusual
- uncommon
- personal
- strange
- individual
- peculiar
- rare
- unknown
- unpopular
- unique
- separate
- private
- especial
- distinctive
- idiosyncratic
- singular
- nonpublic
4
as in unlimited
not limited or specialized in application or purpose a new kitchen tool of general usefulness a general education Synonyms & Similar Words
- unlimited
- unrestricted
- catholic
- unspecialized
- all-round
- unspecified
- general-purpose
- all-purpose
- all-around
- unqualified
- broad
- vague
- wide
- multipurpose
- nonspecific
- mixed-use
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- technical
- limited
- specialized
- restricted
- definite
- confined
- finite
- qualified
- selective
- bounded
- dedicated
- circumscribed
- determinate
- demarcated
general
2 of 2noun
as in executive
Synonyms & Similar Words
- executive
- director
- chief
- governor
- commander
- superior
- principal
- administrator
- boss man
- manager
- employer
- leader
- supervisor
- boss
- master
- superintendent
- captain
- mistress
- overseer
- foreman
- steward
- higher-up
- honcho
- overlord
- helmsman
- hierarch
- straw boss
- kingpin
- headman
- president
- sovereign
- taskmaster
- skipper
- standard-bearer
- leadman
- head
- potentate
- top gun
- king
- big gun
- jefe
- prince
- taskmistress
- forewoman
- ruler
- baron
- ganger
- figurehead
- top dog
- princess
- mogul
- czar
- magnate
- queen
- gaffer
- bigwig
- big cheese
- czarina
- tzarina
- coleader
- sovran
- tsar
- cohead
- tsarina
- tzar
