'generalist' originates from Latin and English formation: from Latin 'generalis' (through French 'général') where the root 'genus' meant 'kind' or 'type', combined in English with the agentive suffix '-ist' (from Greek/Latin '-istes'/'-ista'), meaning 'one who practices or is concerned with'.

'generalist' changed from the adjective 'general' (Old French 'general', from Latin 'generalis') with the later English addition of the suffix '-ist' to form a noun; the modern English noun 'generalist' emerged in the 19th century to denote someone who is not specialized.

Initially related to the idea of being 'general' or concerning the whole ('of a kind' or 'broad'); over time it evolved into the specific sense of 'a person or species with broad, non-specialized skills or characteristics.'