General

/ˈd͡ʒɛn.(ə.)ɹəl/ · adjective

Meaning

Including or involving every part or member of a given or implied entity, whole, etc.; common to all, universal..

Definitions by Sense

1. Including or involving every part or member of a given or implied entity, whole, etc.; common to all, universal.
2. (sometimes postpositive) Applied to a person (as a postmodifier or a normal preceding adjective) to indicate supreme rank, in civil or military titles, and later in other terms; pre-eminent.
3. Prevalent or widespread among a given class or area; common, usual.
4. Not limited in use or application; applicable across a broad range.
5. Giving or consisting of only the most important aspects of something, ignoring minor details; indefinite.
6. Not of a specific class; miscellaneous.
7. (military) The holder of a senior military title, originally designating the commander of an army and now a specific rank falling under field marshal (in the British army) and below general of the army or general of the air force in the US army and air forces.
8. A great strategist or tactician.

Example Sentences

It is generall / To be mortall: / I haue well espyde / No man may hym hyde / From Deth holow eyed […].

"Among us!" was the general shout, and Peppersorn sat frozen to his chair.

That each, who seems a separate whole, Should move his rounds, and fusing all The skirts of self again, should fall Remerging in the general Soul, Is faith as vague as all unsweet: […]

Undoubtedly the age of the Antonines was much better than any later age until the Renaissance, from the point of view of the general happiness.

One advantage of having profitable companies in Britain is that they pay large sums in corporate tax into the Exchequer, which in theory at least is used for the general good.

For these successes he obtained the rank of Field-Marshal General.

He becomes the chief chartered libertine, the whoremaster-general flourishing his "standard" over a female army […].

‘I can't quite afford you the sympathy you expect upon this score,’ I replied; ‘the misfortune is so general, that it belongs to one half of the species […].’

Synonyms for general

Antonyms for general

Related Words

Word Forms

• more general
• most general
• General
• gen.
• gen
• Gen.
• Gen
• genl
• gen'l
• Genl
• Gen'l
• generall
• generals
• generaling
• generalling
• generaled
• generalled

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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