generality

generality — noun

1. a remark or statement that is too broad and lacks specific details, often making

1.nounC1
Definition

a remark or statement that is too broad and lacks specific details, often making it sound vague or not very useful

Example

Full of generalities, the mayor's speech failed to impress anyone at the town hall.

plural form used with critical tone

The professor asked Femi to replace generalities with concrete examples from the data.

Common collocations
  • vague generalities
  • empty generalities
  • broad generalities
  • generalities about
Synonyms
Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

a generality about [topic]

generalities about [topic]

Usage Note

Frequently used in the plural form (generalities), often with a critical or dismissive tone in contexts where specific details are expected.

Common Mistakes

The teacher gave a generality.
The teacher made a generality.
'make a generality' or 'utter a generality' is more natural than 'give a generality'.
He spoke in generality.
He spoke in generalities.
when used to describe vague speech, the plural form is the standard one.

2. the larger number or portion within a particular category or population

2.nounB2
Definition

the larger number or portion within a particular category or population

Example

The generality of voters backed Hyun's proposal for a new park.

the generality of + group noun

The generality of students found the new course schedule helpful.

Common collocations
  • the generality of voters
  • the generality of students
  • the generality of the population
Synonyms
  • majority

    more common and neutral than 'generality'

  • bulk

    slightly informal; suggests a large physical or numerical portion

  • mass

    implies a large undifferentiated group

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

the generality of + plural noun phrase

Usage Note

Always appears with the definite article 'the' followed by 'of'. In everyday conversation, 'most' is preferred; this expression is used mainly in written or formal English.

Common Mistakes

Generality of the voters supported the idea.
The generality of voters supported the idea.
the definite article 'the' is required at the start.

3. the character of being broad in scope and not concerned with specific details or

3.nounC2
Definition

the character of being broad in scope and not concerned with specific details or precise information

Example

The instructions suffered from too much generality to be of any practical use.

formal uncountable noun — register marker

The report was criticised for the generality of its recommendations.

Common collocations
  • too much generality
  • generality of the argument
  • generality of the theory
  • generality of the statement
Synonyms
  • broadness

    less formal; describes wide application

  • universality

    implies something applies to all cases, not just many

  • scope

    focuses on the range of coverage rather than the lack of detail

Antonyms
  • specificity

    the quality of being precise and detailed

  • exactness

    the quality of being accurate to fine detail

Grammar Patterns

the generality of [noun]

Usage Note

Used almost exclusively in formal academic or analytical writing. Unlike sense 1, this sense is uncountable and describes a quality rather than a statement. Cannot be pluralised.

Common Mistakes

The generalities of the theory is its main strength.
The generality of the theory is its main strength.
sense 3 is uncountable; do not use the plural form.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four terms describe remarks that lack precision, but they differ in nuance and connotation. A 'generality' is neutral in tone — it simply means a statement that stays at a broad level without getting into specifics. A 'vague statement' emphasises unclear or fuzzy boundaries, often because the speaker has not thought through the idea. A 'platitude' goes further: it is not only vague but also trite or obvious, like saying 'hard work pays off' without any concrete advice. A 'sweeping statement' is a broad claim made without considering exceptions — for example, 'all teenagers love social media.' In academic writing, 'generality' is the most precise choice when describing a speaker's failure to provide detail, while 'platitude' adds a layer of critical judgement about originality.

generality ↗vague statementplatitudesweeping statement

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • a generality about
  • the generality of
  • in generalities
  • set of generalities
  • full of generalities

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From Latin 'generalitas' (the quality of being general), from 'generalis' (belonging to a kind or class), which in turn comes from 'genus' (kind, race, stock). The word entered English through Old French 'generalité' in the 14th century, originally meaning 'the quality of being general'. By the 16th century it was also used for 'a general statement'. The modern plural sense — 'generalities' as vague remarks — became common in the 19th century.