Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
overgeneralization
noun
/ˌoʊvərˌdʒɛn.ə.rəl.ɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/
Definition
The act of making broad conclusions based on limited evidence or examples.
Examples
- Many students struggle with the concept of overgeneralization, often thinking that one failure means they’ll always fail.
- In his argument, he fell into overgeneralization by claiming that all teenagers are irresponsible based on a few bad examples.
Meaning
Overgeneralization occurs when someone applies a specific observation to a wider context without sufficient justification, often leading to inaccurate assumptions.
Synonyms
- oversimplification
- generalization
- extrapolation
- stereotyping
