generic

[ juh-ner-ik ]

/ dʒəˈnɛr ɪk /

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Definition of generic

adjective Also ge·ner·i·cal .

of, applicable to, or referring to all the members of a genus, class, group, or kind; not specific; general.

of, relating to, or noting a genus especially in biology.

(of a word) applicable or referring to both men and women: a generic pronoun.

not protected by trademark registration: “Cola” and “shuttle” are generic terms.

having no distinguishing characteristics; commonplace: There are a lot of generic interviews, and the lack of unique perspective you get from interviewers is somewhat shocking.

noun

something that is generic.

any product, as a type of food, drug, or cosmetic commonly marketed under a brand name, that is sold in a package without a brand.

a wine made from two or more varieties of grapes, with no one grape constituting more than half the product (distinguished from varietal).

OTHER WORDS FOR generic

1 common, universal.

4 unbranded, nonproprietary, unrestricted.

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OPPOSITES FOR generic

1 specific.

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Origin of generic

First recorded in 1670–80; from Latin gener- (see gender¹) + -ic

OTHER WORDS FROM generic

ge·ner·i·cal·ly, adverbge·ner·i·cal·ness, nounnon·ge·ner·ic, adjectivenon·ge·ner·i·cal, adjective

non·ge·ner·i·cal·ly, adverbpseu·do·ge·ner·ic, adjectivepseu·do·ge·ner·i·cal, adjectivepseu·do·ge·ner·i·cal·ly, adverbsu·per·ge·ner·ic, adjectivesu·per·ge·ner·i·cal·ly, adverbun·ge·ner·ic, adjectiveun·ge·ner·i·cal, adjectiveun·ge·ner·i·cal·ly, adverb

Words nearby generic

generative semantics, generative-transformational grammar, generativist, generator, generatrix, generic, genericization, generosity, generous, generous to a fault, Genesee

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use generic in a sentence

A content marketing guide is generic, your business needs are very much concrete.
Content marketing fails: How to analyze and improve|Michael Doer|August 27, 2020|Search Engine Watch
IKEA tackles the generic-ness problem by making a vast range of different products, and periodically updating long-running bestsellers.
Ikea promises ‘democratic’ design. Has its Virgil Abloh collaboration lived up?|claychandler|August 25, 2020|Fortune
For example, you can use generic keywords to describe your business, your product, and your services.
Three SEO mistakes that can impact your search rankings|Tereza Litsa|August 24, 2020|Search Engine Watch
Instead, its goal is to shore up the US supply of generic drugs.
The US wants to use Covid-19 to insource drug manufacturing|Katherine Ellen Foley|July 26, 2020|Quartz

Metformin is a widely-used generic drug for mitigating liver sugar production in Type 2 diabetes patients.
A Renaissance of Genomics and Drugs Is Extending Human Longevity|Peter H. Diamandis, MD|June 26, 2020|Singularity Hub
And with sildenafil citrate going generic in three years, Pfizer will soon lose sole ownership over the Viagra formula.
Laughter Will Be the Legacy of Viagra|Samantha Allen|October 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But here we are at a generic hotel suite in downtown Toronto.
Adam Sandler Talks Getting Fired From ‘SNL,’ Bad Reviews, and His Desire to Play a Villain|Marlow Stern|September 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But everything in Abbudin feels willfully generic, as if even the tiniest hint of specificity might give offense.
Generic and Superficial ‘Tyrant’ Amerisplains the Middle East|Andrew Romano|June 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We could have made the production a bit more 2010s by steering it in a more generic direction.
Robyn and Royksopp’s Summertime Soundtrack ‘Do It Again’|Andrew Romano|May 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Ketorolac, a generic, is considered a relatively nontoxic drug.
How Big Pharma Holds Back in the War on Cancer|ProPublica|April 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Mangold is here, then, a generic term, standing for other plants equally with the beet.
Notes and Queries, Number 194, July 16, 1853|Various
Illiger (1811:83) proposed Tamias as the generic name of the chipmunk of eastern North America.
Genera and Subgenera of Chipmunks|John A. White
We have also some portraits of Miss Vaughan, who is aggressive and good to look at; but this is not the generic distinction.
Devil-Worship in France|Arthur Edward Waite
We shall first distinguish them by the two generic names of Sapajous and Sagoins.
Buffon's Natural History. Volume IX (of 10)|Georges Louis Leclerc de Buffon
The word guma, like aubo, appears to be a generic term for water, or potable liquids.
The Indian in his Wigwam|Henry R. Schoolcraft

British Dictionary definitions for generic

generic

generical

/ (dʒɪˈnɛrɪk) /

adjective

applicable or referring to a whole class or group; general

biology of, relating to, or belonging to a genusthe generic name

denoting the nonproprietary name of a drug, food product, etc

noun

a drug, food product, etc that does not have a trademark

Derived forms of generic

generically, adverb

Word Origin for generic

C17: from French; see genus

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

generic

Definition of generic

OTHER WORDS FOR generic

OPPOSITES FOR generic

Origin of generic

OTHER WORDS FROM generic

Words nearby generic

Words related to generic

How to use generic in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for generic

generical

Derived forms of generic

Word Origin for generic