Generalise

Generalise is a verb (British English spelling; American English uses generalize) that means to form or extend general conclusions from particular instances, to broaden the scope of something beyond its original limits, or to apply a general rule to specific cases. In logic and statistics, to generalise involves inferring a general principle from observed data or extending a theorem or law to a larger class of objects. The related noun is generalisation (British) or generalization (American).

Generalisation is a common aim in scientific inquiry, where findings from samples are used to describe a population. It carries the risk of overgeneralisation if the sample is unrepresentative or if there are important exceptions. In mathematics and computer science, generalising a problem or theorem seeks to create a broader theory that encompasses existing special cases.

Differences with related concepts: generalise denotes broadening or applying a rule beyond its original scope, but does not always imply universal truth; universalise or universalize would more directly express extending to all cases without exception.

Common usage is often evaluative, requiring careful consideration of evidence and scope. In everyday language, people generalise when they speak about groups based on limited experience, which can lead to stereotyping if not checked against evidence.

Examples: Researchers generalised the results to all adults in the city. The mathematician generalised the theorem to higher dimensions. Adjective forms include generalisable; noun forms include generalisation/generalization.