generalization

Etymology

general + -ization

noun

1. An act or instance of generalizing; concluding that something true of a subclass is true of the entire class
2. The formulation of general concepts from specific instances by abstracting common properties.
3. Inductive reasoning from detailed facts to general principles
4. An oversimplified or exaggerated conception, opinion, or image of the members of a group.
5. (mathematics) A proof, axiom, problem, or definition that includes another's cases, and also some additional cases; a conclusion reached by inferring from specific cases to more general cases or principles.
   A hypersphere is a generalization of a sphere across more than three dimensions.