1. a statement or principle that applies to many cases but may not be true in every instance; a broad conclusion drawn from limited examples
Usage: British spelling; American English uses 'generalization'
2. the process or act of forming a general idea or principle from specific examples or observations
Usage: British spelling; American English uses 'generalization'

Examples

• Saying all teenagers are lazy is an unfair generalisation.
• The study was too small to support such a broad generalisation.
• Through generalisation, scientists develop theories from repeated observations.
• We should avoid making generalisations about entire groups of people.
• The researcher warned against drawing generalisations from a single case study.
• Making generalisations can be useful for understanding patterns, but it can also lead to stereotypes.