die Allgemeinheit
public
The entirety of people in a society; the general public.
EXAMPLE
Der neue Stadtpark ist für die Allgemeinheit frei zugänglich.
The new city park is freely accessible to the public.
die Allgemeinheit
public / generality
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Meanings
die Allgemeinheit
generality
The quality of being general and not specific; generality.
EXAMPLE
Die Allgemeinheit seiner Aussagen machte es schwer, ihm zu widersprechen.
The generality of his statements made it hard to contradict him.
Usage tips
Word structure
The word is made up of the adjective 'allgemein' (general) and the ending '-heit'. The ending '-heit' forms feminine nouns that describe a quality or state.
EXAMPLE
Die Sicherheit der Allgemeinheit hat oberste Priorität.
The safety of the public has top priority.
Context clue
The meaning can be recognized from context: If the word refers to people or society, it means 'die Öffentlichkeit' (the public). If it refers to the quality of a statement or rule, it means 'die Generalität' (generality).
EXAMPLE
Diese Regelung dient dem Schutz der Allgemeinheit.
This regulation serves to protect the public.
Typical collocations
When 'Allgemeinheit' means the public, it is often used with the preposition 'für' (for). Typical phrases are 'für die Allgemeinheit zugänglich sein' (to be accessible to the public) or 'im Interesse der Allgemeinheit handeln' (to act in the public interest).
EXAMPLE
Der Strand ist für die Allgemeinheit geöffnet.
The beach is open to the public.
Use with genitive
In the meaning of 'Generality', 'Allgemeinheit' is often used with a genitive that specifies what is general. Examples are 'die Allgemeinheit einer Regel' (the generality of a rule) or 'die Allgemeinheit einer Behauptung' (the generality of a claim).
EXAMPLE
Die Allgemeinheit des Gesetzes sorgt für viele Diskussionen.
The generality of the law is causing many discussions.
Compare with
Allgemeinheit vs Öffentlichkeit
public
Die Öffentlichkeit and die Allgemeinheit can both refer to the people in a society. Öffentlichkeit emphasizes them more as recipients of information disseminated publicly, while Allgemeinheit emphasizes them as the whole group to which a measure applies or from which it benefits. The boundaries are not always clear-cut.
Allgemeinheit
Die neue Schutzmaßnahme soll der Allgemeinheit dienen.
The new protective measure is intended to benefit the public.
Öffentlichkeit
Die Stadt informierte die Öffentlichkeit über die neue Schutzmaßnahme.
The city informed the public about the new protective measure.
In real life
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