generic

[ juh-ner-ik ]

/ dʒəˈnɛr ɪk /

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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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use generic in a sentence

Jalal can no longer get generic oxycodone from her supplier Kinray, though she can still access brand-name OxyContin.
Patients struggle to access prescription opioids after New York tax drives away suppliers|lbelanger225|November 15, 2020|Fortune
The trailer just dropped, and the film looks like a fairly generic mix of elements from Alien, The X-Files, and Event Horizon.
Bruce Willis returns to space to kick some alien derriere in Breach trailer|Jennifer Ouellette|November 12, 2020|Ars Technica
There is decidedly less value in adding generic images that simply represent the concepts and don’t really add anything.
How visual content can give a boost to your SEO and how to take advantage|Anthony Gaenzle|November 10, 2020|Search Engine Watch
Looking down the ballot, the last generic state House ballot showed Democrats up by 4 points.
Democrats have a once-in-a-generation opportunity in Texas|matthewheimer|October 30, 2020|Fortune

They thought they were giving generic briefings on classified contracting needs, which Courtney then spun to victims.
How a ‘diabolical’ former DEA staffer conned the intelligence community|Rachel Weiner|October 28, 2020|Washington Post
Similarly, the messages from Saudi Arabia and Yemen were attributed generically to the “mujahideen” in both countries.
Murder Vids Help ISIS Lure More Monsters|Thomas Joscelyn|November 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Their first single, “A World Like This,” is generically happy and upbeat, but the music video is bizarre.
MS MR, Backstreet Boys & More Best Music Videos of the Week (VIDEO)|Victoria Kezra|July 21, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Known generically as auto-complete, that feature is familiar to many users.
Google's Plan to Slam You with Ads|Thomas E. Weber|September 8, 2010|DAILY BEAST
But Gallegher's chief characteristic was his love for that element of news generically classed as "crime."
Gallegher and Other Stories|Richard Harding Davis
An element which may be generically termed religious plays no unimportant part in this subject.
Printers' Marks|William Roberts
They were generically spoken of at times as the criminal classes.
John Marvel, Assistant|Thomas Nelson Page
It offers incense obliquely to itself in offering it generically to the class genius.
Falling in Love|Grant Allen
Early writers sometimes use the term generically for all Hindus in western India.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 3, Part 1, Slice 3|Various

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

Medical 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.

A drug sold under its generic name.

generic

OTHER WORDS FOR generic

OPPOSITES FOR generic

Origin of generic

OTHER WORDS FROM 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

Medical definitions for generic