general average: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (specialist/technical)Formal, Technical, Legal, Maritime
Quick answer
What does “general average” mean?
A principle of maritime law where all parties in a sea voyage proportionally share the losses resulting from a voluntary sacrifice of part of the ship or cargo to save the whole venture in an emergency.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A principle of maritime law where all parties in a sea voyage proportionally share the losses resulting from a voluntary sacrifice of part of the ship or cargo to save the whole venture in an emergency.
It can metaphorically refer to any situation where costs, losses, or efforts are shared collectively among a group for the common good, especially after a deliberate sacrifice.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The legal concept and term are identical in both jurisdictions due to international maritime law conventions (e.g., York-Antwerp Rules). Usage may differ slightly in subsidiary national legal phrasing.
Connotations
Purely technical and legal in both. No regional connotative difference.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both UK and US English, confined to shipping, insurance, and international trade contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “general average” in a Sentence
[Shipowner/Captain] declared general average following [emergency event].All cargo interests must contribute to general average.The loss was covered under general average.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “general average” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The adjusters will general-average the losses among consignees.
- The contribution was general-averaged.
American English
- The insurer refused to general average the claim.
- Costs were general-averaged according to the rules.
adverb
British English
- Losses were allocated general-averagely. (Extremely rare/constructed)
American English
- The liability was distributed general-averagely. (Extremely rare/constructed)
adjective
British English
- A general average bond is required before cargo release.
- The general average adjustment process can be lengthy.
American English
- They faced a general average assessment.
- The general average statement detailed all contributions.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in shipping contracts, insurance policies, and freight invoices to denote shared liability for losses.
Academic
Studied in law and maritime studies programs as a key principle of admiralty law.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Core term in maritime law, insurance adjusting, and international trade documentation.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “general average”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “general average”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “general average”
- Using it to mean 'the usual or typical average'.
- Confusing it with 'particular average' (an insured loss affecting only one party's interest).
- Omitting 'general' and just saying 'average', which changes meaning entirely.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a legal term from maritime law. The word 'average' comes from 'avaria' (damage), not mathematics.
Typically, the ship's captain or the shipowner declares it following a deliberate sacrifice (a 'general average act') made in an emergency for the common safety.
'General average' is a loss shared by all parties due to a voluntary sacrifice for common good. 'Particular average' is a partial loss suffered by one specific party (e.g., water damage to one crate), not shared.
Yes, it remains a fundamental principle of modern maritime law and is commonly invoked in international shipping incidents, governed by rules like the York-Antwerp Rules.
A principle of maritime law where all parties in a sea voyage proportionally share the losses resulting from a voluntary sacrifice of part of the ship or cargo to save the whole venture in an emergency.
General average is usually formal, technical, legal, maritime in register.
General average: in British English it is pronounced /ˌdʒɛn(ə)rəl ˈæv(ə)rɪdʒ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌdʒɛn(ə)rəl ˈæv(ə)rɪdʒ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “All in the same boat (conceptually related, but not an idiom *of* the term).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a GENERAL on a sinking ship ordering AVERAGE soldiers to throw some cargo overboard to save everyone; later, all survivors pay their average share for the lost goods.
Conceptual Metaphor
MARITIME DISASTER IS A COLLECTIVE FINANCIAL BURDEN; THE SHIP'S COMMUNITY IS A SINGLE FINANCIAL ENTITY.
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'general average'?