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Definition of general adjective from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

      

    general

     adjective
    adjective
    NAmE//ˈdʒɛnərəl//
     
    , NAmE//ˈdʒɛnrəl//
     
     
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    affecting all
  1. 1affecting all or most people, places, or things The general opinion is that the conference was a success. the general belief/consensus books of general interest (= of interest to most people)
  2. usual
  3. 2[usually before noun] normal; usual There is one exception to this general principle. As a general rule (= usually) he did what he could to be helpful. This opinion is common among the general population (= ordinary people).
  4. not detailed
  5. 3including the most important aspects of something; not exact or detailed synonym overall I checked the weather forecast to get a general idea of what activities to plan. I know how it works in general terms. They gave a general description of the man.
  6. direction/area
  7. 4the general direction/area approximately, but not exactly, the direction/area mentioned They fired in the general direction of the enemy.
  8. not limited
  9. 5not limited to a particular subject, use, or activity a general hospital general education We will at this stage keep the discussion fairly general.
  10. 6not limited to one part or aspect of a person or thing a general anesthetic The building was in a general state of disrepair. compare local
  11. highest in rank
  12. 7[only before noun] General [after noun] highest in rank; chief the general manager the Inspector General see attorney general, Governor General, Secretary General, Solicitor General, Surgeon General
  13. Idioms
    1. 1usually; mainly In general, Japanese cars are very reliable and breakdowns are rare. Language Bankconclusionsumming up an argument
      • In conclusion, the study has provided useful insights into the issues relating to people's perception of crime.
      • Based on this study, it can be concluded that the introduction of new street lighting did not reduce reported crime.
      • To sum up, no evidence can be found to support the view that improved street lighting reduces reported crime.
      • The available evidence clearly leads to the conclusion that the media do have an influence on the public perception of crime.
      • The main conclusion to be drawn from this study is that the public perception of crime is significantly influenced by crime news reporting.
      • This study has shown that people's fear of crime is out of all proportion to crime itself.
      • Fear of crime is out of all proportion to the actual level of crime, and the reasons for this can be summarized as follows. First…
      • Overall/In general, women are more likely than men to feel insecure walking alone after dark.
      Language Bankgenerallyways of saying “in general”
      • Women generally earn less than men.
      • Generally speaking, jobs traditionally done by women are paid at a lower rate than those traditionally done by men.
      • In general/By and large, women do not earn as much as men.
      • Certain jobs, like nursing and cleaning, are still mainly carried out by women.
      • Senior management posts are held predominantly by men.
      • Most senior management posts tend to be held by men.
      • Women are, for the most part, still paid less than men.
      • Economic and social factors are, to a large extent, responsible for women being concentrated in low-paid jobs.
    2. 2as a whole This is a crucial year for your relationships in general and your love life in particular.
See general in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary