generic

[ juh-ner-ik ]

/ dʒəˈnɛr ɪk /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR generic ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective Also ge·ner·i·cal.

of, applicable to, or referring to all the members of a genus, class, group, or kind; 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.

noun

a generic term.

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).

Nearby words

generative-transformational grammar, generatively, generativist, generator, generatrix, generic, generic name, generosity, generous, generous to a fault, generously

Origin of generic

1670–80; < Latin gener- (see gender¹) + -ic

SYNONYMS FOR generic

4 general, nonproprietary, unrestricted.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR generic ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for generic

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
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
Onstage, a trio of dancers in elaborate underwear sway lazily to generic synth beats.
And The Escort of The Year Is… Backstage at The Sex Oscars|Scott Bixby|March 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Polls at that time found that the public favored Democrats 50% to 42% over Republicans in generic Congressional match ups.
6 Reasons This Could Be Obama’s Best Year as President|Dean Obeidallah|January 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The latest Quinnipiac and Pew polls show Democrats with a 9-point generic edge, twice what it was in late August.
Shutdown Aversion: Republicans May Have Just Lost the House|Eleanor Clift|October 7, 2013|DAILY BEAST
In this case as before, Saxon is a generic rather than a particular name.
The Ethnology of the British Islands|Robert Gordon Latham
God uses a generic term which denotes that the heart of man, as such, is meant.
Commentary on Genesis, Vol. II|Martin Luther
The generic evil, out of which all evils spring, every giant intellect of the ages has grappled with, and it has thrown them all.
Chicago's Awful Theater Horror|Various
Another explanation is based on the notion of one generic substance individualized in all distinct, material existences.
The Catholic World; Vol. IV.; October, 1866, to March, 1867.|E. Rameur
Here the generic name is derived from two Greek words—polys, “many,” and pous, “a foot.”
How to Know the Ferns|S. Leonard Bastin

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

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

Medicine definitions for generic

generic

[ jə-nĕr′ĭk ]

adj.

Of or relating to a genus.

Relating to or descriptive of an entire group or class; general.

Of or relating to a drug sold under or identified by its official nonproprietary or chemical name.

n.

A drug sold under its generic name.

generic

adjective Also ge·ner·i·cal.

noun

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of generic

SYNONYMS FOR generic

Related forms

Examples from the Web for generic

British Dictionary definitions for generic

generic

generical

adjective

noun

Derived Forms

Word Origin for generic

Medicine definitions for generic

generic

adj.

n.