gen'ral

Adjective

general (comparative more general, superlative most general)

1. Including or involving every part or member of a given or implied entity, whole, etc.; common to all, universal.
   • It is generall / To be mortall: / I haue well espyde / No man may hym hyde / From Deth holow eyed […].c. 1495, John Skelton, "Vppon a deedman's hed"

   Synonyms:

   common, universal, catholic, ecumenical, generic, nonsingular, nonspecific, unparticular, unsingular, unspecific

   Antonyms:

   specific, special, particular, concrete, discrete, individual, peculiar, proper, singular

2. (postpositional, sometimes) Applied to a person (as a postmodifier or a normal preceding adjective) to indicate supreme rank, in civil or military titles, and later in other terms; pre-eminent.
   • For these successes he obtained the rank of Field-Marshal General.1865, Edward Cust, Lives of the Warriors of the Thirty Years War, page 527
3. Prevalent or widespread among a given class or area; common, usual.
   • ‘I can't quite afford you the sympathy you expect upon this score,’ I replied; ‘the misfortune is so general, that it belongs to one half of the species […].’1817, Sir Walter Scott, chapter IX, in Rob Roy

   Synonyms:

   typical, usual, common, average, basic, bog-standard, common as bums, common as dirt, common as muck, common as pig tracks

   Antonyms:

   abnormal, uncommon

4. Not limited in use or application; applicable across a broad range.
   • M. Venizelos went to Athens from Paris early last January in response to a general invitation from the Greek populace.1924 March 17, Time

   Synonyms:

   broad, generic, catholic, common, ecumenical, nonsingular, nonspecific, universal, unparticular, unsingular

5. Giving or consisting of only the most important aspects of something, ignoring minor details; indefinite.
   • As she thus spoke, the entrance of the servants with dinner cut off all conversation but that of a general nature.1817, Sir Walter Scott, chapter X, in Rob Roy
6. Not of a specific class; miscellaneous.
   • general goods

See all 15 meanings of general