affecting or concerning all or most people, places, or things; widespread, not specialized or limited in range of subject, application, activity, etc.

in general terms, a general rule, the general idea

in general, general public, general store

Formal and Informal Expressions of general

In different contexts, you can replace 'general' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'universal, widespread' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'all-around, across-the-board' is a commonplace synonym.

general: Explore its Definition & Usage

general Definition

1affecting or concerning all or most people, places, or things; widespread
2not specialized or limited in range of subject, application, activity, etc.

Using general: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "general" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
The general consensus is that we need to take action now.
Example
I have a general idea of what the project entails.
Example
She has a general knowledge of history.
Example
The general public is invited to attend the event.

general Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for general

Antonyms for general

Idioms Using general

in general terms
using broad or vague language to describe something
Example
He described the project in general terms, without going into specifics.
a general rule
a statement that is usually true, but may have exceptions
Example
As a general rule, it's best to avoid eating late at night.
the general idea
the basic concept or understanding of something
Example
I didn't read the whole article, but I got the general idea from the first paragraph.

Phrases with general

in general
usually; as a rule; generally
Example
In general, I prefer coffee over tea.
general public
all the people who are not members of a particular group or organization
Example
The museum is open to the general public.
general store
a retail store that carries a wide variety of merchandise, usually in a small town or rural area
Example
The general store was the only place to buy groceries in the small town.

Origins of general

from Latin 'generalis', meaning 'pertaining to a whole class'

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Summary: general in Brief

The term 'general' [ˈdʒenrəl] refers to something that affects or concerns all or most people, places, or things, and is not specialized or limited in range. It can be used to describe a wide variety of subjects, from knowledge to consensus, as in 'The general consensus is that we need to take action now.' 'General' also appears in phrases like 'in general,' and idioms like 'a general rule,' denoting a statement that is usually true, but may have exceptions.