generalist
/ˈdʒen.ər.əl.ɪst/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdʒen.ər.əl.ɪst/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈdʒenrəlɪst/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdʒenrəlɪst/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈjen-rə-list ˈje-nə-/ (ame, mw)
generalist — adjective
- generalistpositive
- more generalistcomparative
- most generalistsuperlative
1. describes people whose abilities or knowledge cover many different areas instead
describes people whose abilities or knowledge cover many different areas instead of being narrowly focused on one subject
Tara chose a generalist degree programme that allowed her to study philosophy, economics, and film.
The job advertisement asked for a generalist designer who could also handle marketing materials.
attributive use: generalist [role/noun]
Elena's generalist training as a nurse meant she could work in several different hospital departments.
Small companies often seek generalist employees who can switch between sales and customer support.
Liam's generalist knowledge of Asian history gave him an advantage in the diplomatic interview.
- broad-based
more neutral and less tied to person-description; works for systems or curricula
- multidisciplinary
more formal; specifically describes how several academic or professional fields are combined
- unspecialized
closest synonym; can sound slightly negative or imply a lack of focus
- wide-ranging
informal; describes interests or knowledge rather than a person's role
- specialized
the direct opposite; describes narrow, deep expertise in one area
- narrow
informal; implies limited scope rather than focused expertise
文法句型
generalist + noun
be + generalist
用法筆記
This adjective is most common in job descriptions, educational contexts, and discussions of career paths. It often pairs with nouns like 'approach,' 'role,' 'background,' or 'training.'
常見錯誤
generalist — noun
1. someone who has understanding and ability across many different subjects or fiel
someone who has understanding and ability across many different subjects or fields, rather than deep expertise in a single area
The non-profit hired a generalist to manage volunteers, finances, and public relations.
Paloma proved to be a true generalist, moving easily from accounting to event planning.
In a small clinic, a medical generalist sees patients with many different symptoms.
Cyrus works as a generalist in IT, handling both network issues and software setup.
The university course encourages students to become generalists before choosing a specialty.
- polymath
implies deep learning across fields; much more formal and rarer
- jack-of-all-trades
informal, sometimes slightly dismissive; implies practical rather than scholarly breadth
- multitasker
narrower; focuses on doing several tasks at once rather than broad knowledge
- renaissance person
formal and idealistic; suggests high cultural or artistic achievement across fields
- specialist
the direct opposite; someone with deep knowledge in a single field
- expert
partial antonym; implies focused, advanced knowledge
文法句型
generalist + in [field/department]
a + generalist
work as a + generalist
用法筆記
Used especially in contrast with 'specialist.' In medicine, 'generalist' often refers to a primary-care or family doctor rather than a narrow specialist. In business, it describes someone whose role covers multiple functions.