generalisierende

Generalisierende is an attributive adjective form in German, derived from the verb generalisieren, meaning to generalize. It describes statements, theses, or reasoning that extend beyond specific cases to broader generalizations. The term is used to mark language or conclusions that apply across multiple situations rather than to a single instance.

Grammatical note: In attributive position before a noun, generalisierende appears with endings that reflect gender and number. For example, die generalisierende These (feminine singular), ein generalisierendes Ergebnis (neuter singular), die generalisierenden Aussagen (plural). In predicate position you would typically encounter generalisierend in forms like Die These ist generalisierend, though this usage is less common in everyday language.

Usage and nuance: Generalisierende is common in academic, analytical, and critical writing, where authors discuss generalizations in arguments, theories, or data interpretations. It often occurs with nouns such as Aussagen, Thesen, Argumente, and Verallgemeinerungen. The term can carry a neutral descriptive sense, but it can also have a negative connotation when criticizing unwarranted or sweeping generalizations.

Related terms: The related verbs are generalisieren and verallgemeinern, and their corresponding nouns include Generalisierung and Verallgemeinerung. The adjective form verallgemeinernd is also used to express a generalizing quality, sometimes with a stronger emphasis on the process of generalization.

See also: generalization, generalizability, critical reasoning.