généralisée

Généralisée is the feminine form of the French adjective généralisé, used to denote that something has been made general, broadened, or extended beyond a single, specific case. It describes concepts, statements, or phenomena that apply to a wider range of situations rather than to a narrow instance.

In mathematics and related disciplines, the term is common to describe generalized concepts. Examples include the notion of generalized coordinates in classical mechanics (coordonnées généralisées), generalized solutions to equations when standard solutions may not exist, and generalized functions (fonction généralisée) in the theory of distributions, which extends classical functions to include objects that may be singular or non-smooth.

In science and engineering, généralisée is used to indicate a comprehensive or broad applicability. A generalized model, generalized phenomena, or an atteinte généralisée (in medicine, referring to widespread involvement) signals that the subject of study or pathology is not confined to a local or isolated case but extends across a broader domain.

Etymology and usage notes: généralisée derives from latin generalis and is commonly used in formal or technical French. It agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies (e.g., conséquence généralisée, coordonnée généralisée). As a stylistic choice, it emphasizes extension from particular to broader applicability across disciplines.