genuine

[jen-yoo-in]

adjective

1. possessing the claimed or attributed character, quality, or origin; not counterfeit; authentic; real.

   genuine sympathy;

   a genuine antique.

2. properly so called.

   a genuine case of smallpox.

3. free from pretense, affectation, or hypocrisy; sincere.

   a genuine person.

   Synonyms: forthright, frank, honest, open, unaffected, true

4. descended from the original stock; pure in breed.

   a genuine Celtic people.

genuine

/ ˈdʒɛnjʊɪn /

adjective

1. not fake or counterfeit; original; real; authentic

2. not pretending; frank; sincere

3. being of authentic or original stock

Pronunciation Note

Two pronunciations of genuine occur, with a sharp social contrast between them. The usual educated pronunciation is , with the final syllable unstressed. Among some less educated speakers, especially older ones, genuine is commonly pronounced as , with a secondary stress on the final syllable, which has the vowel of sign. The latter pronunciation is sometimes used deliberately by educated speakers, as for emphasis or humorous effect.

Other Word Forms

• genuinely adverb
• genuineness noun
• nongenuine adjective
• quasi-genuine adjective
• ungenuine adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of genuine¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin genuīnus “innate, natural,” equivalent to genu, as in ingenuus “native” ( ingenuous ) + -īnus adjective suffix ( -ine ¹ )

Word History and Origins

Origin of genuine¹

C16: from Latin genuīnus inborn, hence (in Late Latin) authentic, from gignere to produce

Synonym Study

See authentic.

Example Sentences

Fellow LBC presenter Clive Bull said that before Hayes arrived, there had been very little genuine interaction between presenters and callers on UK radio.

Read more on BBC

We wanted to check whether this inventory was authentic, so we showed it to another former high-ranking police officer from the riot police who confirmed it seemed genuine.

Read more on BBC

It’s up to universities to address what has gone wrong within their walls and to restore the values and practices that make for genuine liberal arts learning—and thoughtful, responsible citizens.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Slower connection speeds, higher costs and limited protection against specific online threats are genuine concerns.

Read more on Salon

The winning streak completed a remarkable turnaround from a 2024 where England lost seven successive matches against tier-one opposition and they now enter the Six Nations as genuine title contenders.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• absolute 
• bona fide 
• certain 
• honest 
• legitimate 
• natural 
• palpable 
• positive 
• pure