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• genie
  genie

  noun

  jinn.
• Genie
  Genie

  noun

  an award given by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television in recognition of Canadian cinematic achievements

genie

American  

[jee-nee] / ˈdʒi ni /

noun

1. Islamic Mythology. jinn.

2. a spirit, often appearing in human form, that when summoned by a person carries out the wishes of the summoner.

3. any spirit; demon.

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genie ¹ British  

/ ˈdʒiːnɪ /

noun

1. (in fairy tales and stories) a servant who appears by magic and fulfils a person's wishes

2. another word for jinni

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Genie ² British  

/ ˈdʒiːnɪ /

noun

1. an award given by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television in recognition of Canadian cinematic achievements

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Etymology

Origin of genie

1645–55; < French génie < Latin genius; see genius

Explanation

A genie is a mythological spirit. In stories, most genies are described as magical beings that live inside lamps or bottles and grant people's wishes. The word genie comes from the French génie, a word that was coined for the French translation of the book Arabian Nights and comes from the Arabic jinni. Genies were a staple of ancient Arabian myths, and later of Islamic folktales. If you've ever seen the movie Aladdin, you know the popular version of a genie, who appears to grant wishes after being summoned from an oil lamp.

Example Sentences

“We may not be able to put this genie back into the bottle,” he added.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

The Epstein genie is out of the bottle.

From Salon • Jul. 28, 2025

On Monday, the judge said: "There is nothing the juror can say at this point that can put the genie back in the bottle and repair his credibility."

From BBC • Jun. 16, 2025

“You can’t put the genie back in the bottle now,” Huda Ammori, co-founder of Palestine Action, told Slate.

From Slate • Mar. 24, 2025

Then, like a genie sucking back into a bottle, he regained control.

From "Tangerine" by Edward Bloor