Broad vs. General — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 21, 2024
Broad encompasses a wide range of aspects or elements, emphasizing scope; general refers to common traits or a summary overview, focusing on similarities.
Difference Between Broad and General
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Broad implies a wide scope or coverage, often including a variety of aspects, elements, or details within a particular field or subject. This breadth can encompass diverse perspectives, comprehensive analyses, or extensive ranges, whereas general denotes a focus on commonalities or overarching themes, often simplifying or abstracting details to present a summary or basic understanding. It tends to highlight what is typical or shared across multiple instances without delving into specifics.
When describing knowledge or understanding, 'broad' suggests a well-rounded grasp of numerous facets within a topic, indicating depth and diversity. In contrast, 'general' knowledge implies a foundational or basic level of understanding, often lacking in detail but covering essential principles or concepts that apply widely.
In terms of applicability, broad approaches or solutions are inclusive, considering various circumstances or conditions. They are versatile but can sometimes be less tailored to specific needs. On the other hand, general approaches aim to be universally applicable, providing standard guidelines or methods that are not customized for particular situations.
The usage of 'broad' often implies an intentional inclusion of diversity and a comprehensive scope, seeking to encompass as much variety as possible. Conversely, 'general' tends to imply a level of abstraction or simplification, aiming to communicate core ideas or principles without the complexity of specific details.
Despite their differences, both 'broad' and 'general' share a commonality in their avoidance of narrow focus or specialization. They are used to convey a sense of inclusivity or overview, albeit from different perspectives—one emphasizing scope and diversity, the other focusing on commonalities and simplification.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Encompassing a wide range of aspects or elements.
Focusing on common traits or a summary overview.
Scope
Wide, inclusive of diversity and details.
Basic, focusing on universal principles or concepts.
Knowledge
Indicates depth and a well-rounded understanding.
Suggests a foundational or surface-level understanding.
Applicability
Versatile but may lack specificity for particular cases.
Intended to be universally applicable, providing standard guidelines.
Intention
Aims to include variety and comprehensive coverage.
Aims to abstract or simplify to highlight commonalities.
Compare with Definitions
Broad
Broad encompasses a diverse range of aspects within a topic.
Her research interests are broad, covering various aspects of environmental science.
General
It provides a simplified or abstracted understanding.
The introduction gives a general overview of the book's themes.
Broad
It includes multiple perspectives or elements, emphasizing inclusivity.
The broad curriculum aims to provide students with a well-rounded education.
General
Generalization tends to simplify complexities into core ideas.
His explanation of quantum mechanics was general but easy for beginners to understand.
Broad
Broad knowledge implies understanding multiple facets of a subject.
His broad experience in the industry made him a valuable consultant.
General
General focuses on what is typical or shared across instances.
The general consensus is that the policy will benefit the economy.
Broad
Broad solutions or approaches are adaptable to various situations.
The software provides broad functionality to cater to different user needs.
General
General approaches are widely applicable, though not specialized.
The guidelines provide general advice suitable for most situations.
Broad
Often associated with detailed and thorough examination.
The report offers a broad analysis of the market trends over the past decade.
General
General knowledge covers essential principles without detail.
She has a general understanding of programming, enough to grasp its fundamentals.
Broad
Wide in extent from side to side
A broad river.
Broad shoulders.
General
Affecting or concerning all or most people or things; widespread
Books of general interest
The general opinion was that prices would fall
Broad
Large in expanse; spacious
A broad lawn.
General
Considering or including only the main features or elements of something; not exact or detailed
The arrangements were outlined in very general terms
A general introduction to the subject
Broad
Having a certain width from side to side
A sidewalk three feet broad.
General
Chief or principal
The general manager
The Director General of the BBC
Broad
Full; open
Broad daylight.
General
A commander of an army, or an army officer of very high rank.
Broad
Covering a wide scope; general
A broad rule.
General
The general public.
Broad
Liberal; tolerant
Had broad views regarding social services.
General
Concerned with, applicable to, or affecting the whole or every member of a class or category
"subduing all her impressions as a woman, to something more general" (Virginia Woolf).
Broad
Relating to or covering the main facts or the essential points
A plan presented in broad outline.
General
Affecting or characteristic of the majority of those involved; prevalent
General discontent.
Broad
Plain and clear; obvious
Gave us a broad hint to leave.
General
Of or affecting the entire body
General paralysis.
Broad
Vulgar; ribald
A broad joke.
General
Being usually the case; true or applicable in most instances but not all
The general correctness of her decisions.
Broad
Strikingly regional or dialectal
A broad Southern accent.
General
Not limited in scope, area, or application
As a general rule.
Broad
(Linguistics) Pronounced with the tongue placed low and flat and with the oral cavity wide open, like the a in father.
General
Not limited to or dealing with one class of things; diversified
General studies.
Broad
A wide flat part, as of one's hand.
General
Involving only the main features rather than precise details
A general grasp of the subject.
Broad
Offensive Slang A woman or girl.
General
Highest or superior in rank
The general manager.
Broad
Fully; completely.
General
A commissioned rank in the US Army, Air Force, or Marine Corps that is above lieutenant general.
Broad
Wide in extent or scope.
Three feet broad
The broad expanse of ocean
General
One who holds this rank or a similar rank in another military organization.
Broad
Extended, in the sense of diffused; open; clear; full.
General
A general officer.
Broad
Having a large measure of any thing or quality; unlimited; unrestrained.
General
A statement, principle, or fact that embraces or is applicable to the whole.
Broad
Comprehensive; liberal; enlarged.
General
General anesthesia.
Broad
Plain; evident.
A broad hint
General
(Archaic) The public.
Broad
General rather than specific.
To be in broad agreement
General
Including or involving every part or member of a given or implied entity, whole etc.; as opposed to specific or particular.
Broad
(writing) Unsubtle; obvious.
General
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.
Broad
Free; unrestrained; unconfined.
General
Prevalent or widespread among a given class or area; common, usual.
Broad
(dated) Gross; coarse; indelicate.
A broad compliment; a broad joke; broad humour
General
Not limited in use or application; applicable to the whole or every member of a class or category.
Broad
(of an accent) Strongly regional.
She still has a broad Scottish accent, despite moving to California 20 years ago.
General
Giving or consisting of only the most important aspects of something, ignoring minor details; indefinite.
Broad
(Gaelic languages) Velarized, i.e. not palatalized.
General
Not limited to a specific class; miscellaneous, concerned with all branches of a given subject or area.
Broad
(UK) A shallow lake, one of a number of bodies of water in eastern Norfolk and Suffolk.
General
A general fact or proposition; a generality.
We have dealt with the generals; now let us turn to the particulars.
Broad
A lathe tool for turning down the insides and bottoms of cylinders.
General
(military ranks) The holder of a senior military title, originally designating the commander of an army and now a specific rank falling under field marshal (in the British army) and below general of the army or general of the air force in the US army and air forces.
Broad
A British gold coin worth 20 shillings, issued by the Commonwealth of England in 1656.
General
A great strategist or tactician.
Hannibal was one of the greatest generals of the ancient world.
Broad
A kind of floodlight.
General
(Christianity) The head of certain religious orders, especially Dominicans or Jesuits.
Broad
A playing card.
General
(nautical) A commander of naval forces; an admiral.
Broad
(dated) A prostitute, a woman of loose morals.
General
A general servant; a maid with no specific duties.
Broad
A woman or girl.
General
(countable) A general anesthetic.
Broad
Wide; extend in breadth, or from side to side; - opposed to narrow; as, a broad street, a broad table; an inch broad.
General
(uncountable) General anesthesia.
Broad
Extending far and wide; extensive; vast; as, the broad expanse of ocean.
General
The general insurance industry.
I work in general.
Broad
Extended, in the sense of diffused; open; clear; full.
General
(xiangqi) A xiangqi piece, that is moved one point orthogonally and confined within the palace.
Broad
Fig.: Having a large measure of any thing or quality; not limited; not restrained; - applied to any subject, and retaining the literal idea more or less clearly, the precise meaning depending largely on the substantive.
A broad mixture of falsehood.
General
To lead (soldiers) as a general.
Broad
Comprehensive; liberal; enlarged.
The words in the Constitution are broad enough to include the case.
In a broad, statesmanlike, and masterly way.
General
(obsolete) In a general or collective manner or sense; in most cases; upon the whole.
Broad
Plain; evident; as, a broad hint.
General
Relating to a genus or kind; pertaining to a whole class or order; as, a general law of animal or vegetable economy.
Broad
Free; unrestrained; unconfined.
As broad and general as the casing air.
General
Comprehending many species or individuals; not special or particular; including all particulars; as, a general inference or conclusion.
Broad
Characterized by breadth. See Breadth.
General
Not restrained or limited to a precise import; not specific; vague; indefinite; lax in signification; as, a loose and general expression.
Broad
Cross; coarse; indelicate; as, a broad compliment; a broad joke; broad humor.
General
Common to many, or the greatest number; widely spread; prevalent; extensive, though not universal; as, a general opinion; a general custom.
This general applause and cheerful shoutArgue your wisdom and your love to Richard.
Broad
Strongly marked; as, a broad Scotch accent.
It is as broad as long, whether they rise to others, or bring others down to them.
General
Having a relation to all; common to the whole; as, Adam, our general sire.
Broad
The broad part of anything; as, the broad of an oar.
General
As a whole; in gross; for the most part.
His general behavior vain, ridiculous.
Broad
The spread of a river into a sheet of water; a flooded fen.
General
Usual; common, on most occasions; as, his general habit or method.
Broad
A lathe tool for turning down the insides and bottoms of cylinders.
General
The whole; the total; that which comprehends or relates to all, or the chief part; - opposed to particular.
In particulars our knowledge begins, and so spreads itself by degrees to generals.
Broad
Slang term for a woman;
A broad is a woman who can throw a mean punch
General
One of the chief military officers of a government or country; the commander of an army, of a body of men not less than a brigade. In European armies, the highest military rank next below field marshal.
Broad
Having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other;
Wide roads
A wide necktie
Wide margins
Three feet wide
A river two miles broad
Broad shoulders
A broad river
General
The roll of the drum which calls the troops together; as, to beat the general.
Broad
Broad in scope or content;
Across-the-board pay increases
An all-embracing definition
Blanket sanctions against human-rights violators
An invention with broad applications
A panoptic study of Soviet nationality
Granted him wide powers
General
The chief of an order of monks, or of all the houses or congregations under the same rule.
Broad
Not detailed or specific;
A broad rule
The broad outlines of the plan
Felt an unspecific dread
General
The public; the people; the vulgar.
Broad
Lacking subtlety; obvious;
Gave us a broad hint that it was time to leave
General
A general officer of the highest rank
Broad
Being at a peak or culminating point;
Broad day
Full summer
High noon
General
The head of a religious order or congregation
Broad
Very large in expanse or scope;
A broad lawn
The wide plains
A spacious view
Spacious skies
General
A fact about the whole (as opposed to particular);
He discussed the general but neglected the particular
He always reasons from the particular to the general
Broad
(of speech) heavily and noticeably regional;
A broad southern accent
General
Command as a general;
We are generaled by an incompetent!
Broad
Showing or characterized by broad-mindedness;
A broad political stance
Generous and broad sympathies
A liberal newspaper
Tolerant of his opponent's opinions
General
Applying to all or most members of a category or group;
The general public
General assistance
A general rule
In general terms
Comprehensible to the general reader
General
Not specialized or limited to one class of things;
General studies
General knowledge
General
Of national scope;
A general election
General
Prevailing among and common to the general public;
The general discontent
General
Affecting the entire body;
A general anesthetic
General symptoms
General
Somewhat indefinite;
Bearing a general resemblance to the original
A general description of the merchandise
General
Of worldwide scope or applicability;
An issue of cosmopolitan import
The shrewdest political and ecumenical comment of our time
Universal experience
Common Curiosities
What does "broad" imply in an academic context?
In academia, "broad" implies extensive coverage across a wide range of subjects or disciplines, suggesting depth and diversity in knowledge.
How does "general" knowledge differ from "specific" knowledge?
General knowledge covers basic, overarching themes or principles, while specific knowledge delves into detailed aspects of a particular subject.
Does a broad curriculum enhance learning?
A broad curriculum can enhance learning by exposing students to a variety of subjects and perspectives, fostering a well-rounded education.
Can a broad perspective lead to specialization?
Yes, exploring a broad range of topics can help identify areas of keen interest, leading to further specialization.
Can one's interests be both broad and general?
Yes, one can have broad interests across many fields, with each interest being general in terms of depth or specificity.
Is a broad approach more valuable than a general one?
The value depends on the context; a broad approach is beneficial for comprehensive understanding, while a general approach is useful for foundational knowledge.
How does a general overview help in learning?
A general overview provides a foundational understanding of a subject, making it easier to grasp more complex or specific information later on.
How does general knowledge benefit daily life?
General knowledge benefits daily life by enabling individuals to understand basic principles and commonalities in various situations and subjects.
How do broad research topics differ from general ones?
Broad research topics encompass a wide range of aspects within a field, while general topics address overarching themes without specific detail.
Is general knowledge sufficient for professional success?
While general knowledge provides a foundational base, professional success often requires a combination of broad and specific expertise.
Can a study be both broad and general?
Yes, a study can be broad in scope, covering a wide range of topics, while remaining general in its depth, not delving into detailed analysis.
Can a general approach lead to misconceptions?
Yes, relying solely on generalities can lead to oversimplifications or misconceptions, underscoring the importance of specificity for clarity.
In what ways can a broad learning approach benefit career development?
A broad learning approach can enhance career development by equipping individuals with a versatile skill set and adaptability across various fields.
How do teachers use broad and general concepts in education?
Teachers use broad concepts to expose students to diverse topics and general concepts to lay the groundwork for deeper exploration.
Why is it important to balance broad and general knowledge?
Balancing broad and general knowledge allows for a well-rounded understanding, enabling both comprehensive and foundational insights.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
