What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Generalize vs Widespread - What's the difference?

generalize | widespread |

As a verb generalize

is to speak in generalities, or in vague terms.

As an adjective widespread is

affecting a large area (eg the entire land or body); broad in extent; widely diffused.

generalize

English

Alternative forms

* generalise (non-Oxford British spelling)

Verb

(en-verb)
  • To speak in generalities, or in vague terms.
  • To infer or induce from specific cases to more general cases or principles.
  • * W. Nicholson
  • Copernicus generalized' the celestial motions by merely referring them to the moon's motion. Newton ' generalized them still more by referring this last to the motion of a stone through the air.
  • To spread throughout the body and become systemic.
  • To derive or deduce (a general conception, or a general principle) from particulars.
  • * Coleridge
  • A mere conclusion generalized from a great multitude of facts.

    Antonyms

    * specialize

    Derived terms

    * generalizable, generalisable * generalizability, generalisability * generalization, generalisation * generalizer, generaliser * generalist

    widespread

    English

    Adjective

  • Affecting a large area (e.g. the entire land or body); broad in extent; widely diffused.
  • *
  • *:It was April 22, 1831, and a young man was walking down Whitehall in the direction of Parliament Street. He wore shepherd's plaid trousers and the swallow-tail coat of the day, with a figured muslin cravat wound about his wide-spread collar.
  • *{{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-28, author=(Joris Luyendijk)
  • , volume=189, issue=3, page=21, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= Our banks are out of control , passage=Seeing the British establishment struggle with the financial sector is like watching an alcoholic

    Synonyms

    * extensive, pervasive, prevalent, ubiquitous, universal

    Antonyms

    * limited