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

College sports leaders are trying to squeeze the genie back into the bottle—witness the president’s new executive order commanding transfer and eligibility limits, among other items—but it’s hard to see the landscape changing soon.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

“So just like that, the proverbial genie is out of the bottle and it’s on videotape that I’m going to UCLA,” Easley would recall many years later.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 15, 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

Selena Gomez is here, double nominee tonight, and she's here with her new fiancé Benny Blanco, and Benny Blanco is here because of the genie who granted him that wish.

From BBC • Jan. 5, 2025

The genie seemed to realize what was going on now, and frantically tried to escape, but it was too late.

From "Half Upon a Time" by James Riley