general ( generals plural )
1 n-count; n-title; n-voc A general is a high-ranking officer in the armed forces, usually in the army.
The General's visit to Sarajevo is part of preparations for the deployment of extra troops.
2 adj If you talk about the general situation somewhere or talk about something in general terms, you are describing the situation as a whole rather than considering its details or exceptions.
The figures represent a general decline in employment., ...the general deterioration of English society. If you describe something in general terms, you describe it without giving details.
in general terms phrase
She recounted in very general terms some of the events of recent months.
3 adj You use general to describe several items or activities when there are too many of them or when they are not important enough to mention separately.
£2,500 for software is soon swallowed up in general costs..., His firm took over the planting and general maintenance of the park last March.
4 adj You use general to describe something that involves or affects most people, or most people in a particular group.
The project should raise general awareness about bullying.
5 adj If you describe something as general, you mean that it is not restricted to any one thing or area.
...a general ache radiating from the back of the neck., ...a general sense of well-being., ...raising the level of general physical fitness.
6 adj General is used to describe a person's job, usually as part of their title, to indicate that they have complete responsibility for the administration of an organization or business. (BUSINESS) ADJ n
He joined Sanders Roe, moving on later to become General Manager.
8 You use in general to indicate that you are talking about something as a whole, rather than about part of it.
in general phrase n PHR
I think we need to improve our educational system in general..., She had a confused idea of life in general.
9 You say in general to indicate that you are referring to most people or things in a particular group.
in general phrase n PHR
People in general will support us..., She enjoys a sterling reputation in law enforcement circles and among the community in general.
10 You say in general to indicate that a statement is true in most cases.
in general phrase PHR with cl
(=on the whole) In general, it was the better-educated voters who voted Yes in the referendum.
Attorney General ( Attorneys General plural ) A country's Attorney General is its chief law officer, who advises its government or ruler. n-count
brigadier general ( brigadier generals plural ) , brigadier-general In the United States, a brigadier general is a senior officer in the armed forces who is often in charge of a brigade and has a rank above colonel and below major general. n-count; n-title
...Brigadier General Gary Whipple of the Louisiana National Guard.
director general ( directors general plural ) The director general of a large organization such as the BBC is the person who is in charge of it. n-count usu sing
general election ( general elections plural )
1 n-count In Britain, a general election is an election where everyone votes for people to represent them in Parliament.
2 n-count In the United States, a general election is a local, state, or national election where the candidates have been selected by a primary election. Compare primary.
General knowledge is knowledge about many different things, as opposed to detailed knowledge about one particular subject. n-uncount
general practice ( general practices plural )
1 n-uncount When a doctor is in general practice, he or she treats sick people at a surgery or office, or visits them at home, and does not specialize in a particular type of medicine.
In recent years, doctors have been trained specifically for general practice.
General practice is also a noun., n-count
The sample was selected from the medical records of two general practices.
2 n-uncount When lawyers deal with all kinds of legal matters, rather than specializing in one kind of law, you can say they have a general practice or are in general practice.
general practitioner ( general practitioners plural ) A general practitioner is the same as a GP.
You can refer to the people in a society as the general public, especially when you are contrasting people in general with a small group. n-sing-coll the N
These charities depend on the compassionate feelings and generosity of the general public..., Unemployment is 10 percent among the general public and about 40 percent among North African immigrants.
general strike ( general strikes plural ) A general strike is a situation where most or all of the workers in a country are on strike and are refusing to work. n-count
Governor-General ( Governors-General plural ) A Governor-General is a person who is sent to a former British colony as the chief representative of Britain.
(BRIT) n-count oft the N of n
...the former Governor-General of New Zealand.
major general ( major generals plural ) , major-general In Britain, a major general is a senior officer in the army, one rank above a brigadier. In the United States, a major general is a senior officer in the army, air force, or marines, one rank above brigadier general. n-count; n-title; n-voc
secretary-general ( secretaries-general plural ) , Secretary General Thesecretary-general of an international political organization is the person in charge of its administration. n-count usu the N in sing
...the United Nations Secretary-General.
Solicitor General , solicitor-general
TheSolicitor General in Britain or the United States, or in an American state, is the second most important legal officer, next in rank below an Attorney General. n-sing; n-title