Général

Général is a French word with multiple related meanings. As an adjective, it means general or overall, describing something broad, universal, or not limited to a specific instance. The term derives from Latin generalis, meaning pertaining to the whole or to a class as a whole. In many expressions, it forms part of common phrases such as en général (generally) or généraliste (generalist).

As a noun, général refers to a high-ranking officer in many military forces, equivalent to the English general. In the French armed forces, the category of general officers includes ranks such as général de brigade, général de division, général de corps d'armée, and the senior général d'armée. These ranks denote increasing levels of responsibility and command, and they sit above colonel in the officer hierarchy. The title is used in both historical and contemporary contexts, with variations across branches and nations.

Général has feminine form générale and adjectives or nouns derived from it can adapt to gender, such as une générale or l’intelligence générale in other senses. The word appears in other derivatives, including généralité (in historical France, a territorial and administrative division; in modern usage, a general concept or generality) and généraliser (to generalize). The term also appears in personal names and nicknames, where it may be used as a title or honorific.

In summary, général serves as both a broad descriptive term in French and a precise military rank, reflecting the language’s capacity to express generality and hierarchical authority within a single word.