generic

[ juh-ner-ik ]

/ dʒəˈnɛr ɪk /

Save This Word!

See 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; 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.

See synonyms for generic on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR generic

1 specific.

See antonyms for generic on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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. 2023

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

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