general

 
Pronunciation: /ˈdʒɛn(ə)r(ə)l/

adjective

  • 1affecting or concerning all or most people or things; widespread: books of general interest the general opinion was that prices would fall
  • not specialized or limited in range of subject, application, activity, etc.: brush up on your general knowledge
  • (of a rule, principle, etc.) true for all or most cases.
  • normal or usual: it is not general practice to confirm or deny such reports
  • 2considering or including only the main features or elements of something; not exact or detailed: the arrangements were outlined in very general terms a general introduction to the subject
  • 3 [often in titles] chief or principal: the Director General of the BBC the general manager

noun

  • 1a commander of an army, or an army officer of very high rank.
  • a high rank of officer in the army and in the US air force, above lieutenant general and below field marshal, general of the army, or general of the air force.
  • informalshort for lieutenant general or major general
  • the head of a religious order organized on quasi-military lines, e.g. the Jesuits, the Dominicans, or the Salvation Army.
  • 2 (the general) archaic the general public.

Phrases

as a general rule

in most cases.

in general

  • 1usually; mainly: in general, Alexander was a peaceful, loving man
  • 2as a whole: our understanding of culture in general and of literature in particular

Origin:

Middle English: via Old French from Latin generalis, from genus, gener- 'class, race, kind'. The noun primarily denotes a person having overall authority: the sense 'army commander' is an abbreviation of captain general, from French capitaine général 'commander-in-chief'