General

/ˈdʒɛn.ə.rəl/

Meaning & Definition

noun

a high-ranking officer in the army, air force, or marine corps.

The general addressed the troops before the mission.

a person who has a lot of experience in a particular field.

She is considered a general in the field of education reform.

adjective

relating to, or affecting all or most people, places, or things; widespread.

The general consensus is that more research is needed in this area.

not specific or specialized; providing a broad overview.

He gave a general description of the project without going into detail.

common or usual; ordinary.

In general, people prefer to work in a friendly environment.

Middle English, from Latin 'generalis', from 'genus', meaning 'kind, type'.

in general:

In most cases; usually.

general idea:

A broad understanding or concept.

general admission:

A type of ticket allowing entry to an event without reserved seating.

In general terms, often used to indicate an average or norm.

In general, people love pizza.

To refer to something that is generally accepted or understood.

Everyone in general thinks it's a good idea.