generalities

generalities — 名詞

1. remarks or statements that are too broad and lack specific details, making them

1.名詞B2
釋義

空泛話

缺乏具體細節的模糊陳述

remarks or statements that are too broad and lack specific details, making them seem empty or evasive — for example, a politician promising 'change' without saying what kind of change.

例句

The minister's speech was full of generalities about economic growth, with no mention of actual tax changes or spending cuts.

部長的演說充滿了關於經濟成長的籠統說法，完全沒提到具體的稅務調整或支出削減。

collocation: full of generalities

When the journalist pressed for details, the company spokesperson offered only generalities about future plans.

當記者追問細節時，公司發言人只給了關於未來計畫的空泛說法。

pattern: offer generalities about + topic

同義詞
  • platitudes

    empty, boring statements that have been said so often they have no meaning; stronger negative tone

  • clichés

    overused phrases that lack original thought; refers to the phrasing itself

  • vague comments

    informal alternative; less dismissive than 'generalities'

  • empty promises

    a type of generality that involves commitments, not just statements

反義詞

文法句型

speak in generalities

generalities about [topic]

full of generalities

用法筆記

Overwhelmingly used in the plural. This sense carries a negative tone — describing someone's words as 'generalities' is usually a criticism, implying the speaker is avoiding specifics on purpose.

常見錯誤

❌His speech was full of generalizations that avoided the real issues.
✅His speech was full of generalities that avoided the real issues.
💡A 'generalization' is a broad claim that may have evidence; a 'generality' is intentionally vague and unhelpful.
❌She talked in general.
✅She talked in generalities.
💡The fixed phrase is 'in generalities', not 'in general', which means 'overall' or 'mostly'.

2. the largest part or number of a group of people or things; the majority — for ex

2.名詞C1
釋義

大部分；多數

一群人中的絕大多數

the largest part or number of a group of people or things; the majority — for example, 'the generality of voters' meaning most voters.

例句

The generality of voters supported the education reform, according to the independent poll.

根據獨立民調，大部分選民支持教育改革。

pattern: the generality of + noun (the majority of)

Unlike her critics, Dr. Okonkwo focused not on unusual cases but on the generality of patients.

與批評者不同，Okonkwo 醫師關注的不是少見病例，而是大部分患者的普遍情況。

formal register: the generality of patients

同義詞
  • majority

    more common and neutral; the standard modern alternative

  • bulk

    informal; often used for physical quantity but also groups ('the bulk of the workforce')

  • most

    simplest and most natural alternative in everyday English

反義詞

文法句型

the generality of + noun phrase

用法筆記

Always appears in the singular form 'generality' and requires the definite article ('the generality of...'). This sense is very formal and somewhat dated in modern English; in everyday speech, 'most', 'the majority of', or 'most of' are far more common.

常見錯誤

❌Generalities of people like this music.
✅The generality of people like this music.
💡This sense requires 'the' before 'generality' and is followed by 'of' + noun.
❌The generalities of students passed the test.
✅The generality of students passed the test.
💡In this meaning, 'generality' is uncountable and always singular.

3. a broad concept that covers a wide range of situations without looking at any on

3.名詞C1
釋義

概括原則

廣泛適用但不夠具體的原理

a broad concept that covers a wide range of situations without looking at any one case in depth — for example, the generality that 'markets respond to supply and demand'.

例句

The course began with generalities about economic theory before applying them to real markets.

課程先講解經濟理論的概括性觀點，再套用到真實市場中。

pattern: begin with generalities before moving to specifics

Sofia prefers to understand the generalities of a subject first, then learn the exceptions.

Sofia 喜歡先理解一個學科的普遍原則，再學習例外情況。

同義詞
  • generalization

    more academic; implies a claim made from evidence, while 'generality' is more neutral

  • principle

    stronger implication of a rule or law; less about vagueness

  • abstract idea

    informal; focuses on the non-concrete nature rather than breadth

反義詞

文法句型

move from generalities to specifics

beyond generalities

generalities about [topic]

用法筆記

Unlike sense 1 (VAGUE STATEMENTS), this sense is neutral or even positive — it describes the necessary early stage of reasoning or teaching. The negative judgment comes when you stay at the level of generalities without ever getting specific.

常見錯誤

❌This generality is too board to be helpful.
✅This generality is too broad to be helpful.
💡'Broad' (wide) and 'board' (a piece of wood) are easily confused by learners.