genre

American  

[zhahn-ruh, zhahn-r^uh] / ˈʒɑn rə, ˈʒɑ̃ rə /

noun

plural

genres

1. a class or category of artistic endeavor having a particular form, content, technique, or the like.

   the genre of epic poetry; the genre of symphonic music.

2. Fine Arts.

   1. paintings in which scenes of everyday life form the subject matter.

   2. a realistic style of painting using such subject matter.

3. genus; kind; sort; style.

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adjective

1. Fine Arts. of or relating to genre.

2. of or relating to a distinctive literary type.

genre British  

/ ˈʒɑːnrə /

noun

1. 1. kind, category, or sort, esp of literary or artistic work

   2. ( as modifier )

      genre fiction

2. a category of painting in which domestic scenes or incidents from everyday life are depicted

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genre Cultural  

1. The kind or type of a work of art, from the French, meaning “kind” or “genus.” Literary genres include the novel and the sonnet. Musical genres include the concerto and the symphony. Film genres include Westerns and horror movies.

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Etymology

Origin of genre

First recorded in 1760–70; from French: “kind, sort”; gender ¹

Example Sentences

Author Andy Weir incorporates complex mathematical concepts into his storytelling, focusing on the science portion of the genre.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Still, like any genre, political books have their tropes.

From Slate • Apr. 3, 2026

Horror is filled with trend-hopping and mimicry — the genre itself holds a mirror to our cultural anxieties, replicating them with chilling, hyperbolic intensity.

From Salon • Mar. 29, 2026

“This show is such a great opportunity to begin my career in this genre — now, I want to continue my reign of terror.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026

Let’s take a genre of music and find its cultural value and musical aesthetics.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin

Related Words

• brand
• category
• character
• fashion
• kind
• style