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Definition of overgeneralize

overgeneralize

/ˌoʊvɚˈdʒɛnɚəlaɪz/
(UK: overgeneralise)
o · ver · gen · er · al · ize
Past Simple:overgeneralized
•
Past Participle:overgeneralized
•
Present Participle:overgeneralizing
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overgeneralize Lexical Profile

overgeneralize Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To draw a broad conclusion or state a general rule based on insufficient or unrepresentative evidence.

Example

"Critics argued that the sociological study tended to overgeneralize from a very small sample of urban households."

2

To apply a grammatical rule or learned behavioral response beyond its proper limits (in linguistics and psychology).

Example

"Young children learning English frequently overgeneralize the past-tense suffix and say 'runned' instead of 'ran'."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
View all antonyms for overgeneralize

• Rhymes for overgeneralize

• Nearby Words

overfussy
overgarment
overgeneralization
overgeneralize
overgenerosity
overgenerous
overglamorize

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Overgeneralize. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/overgeneralize
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