genuine

[jen-yoo-in]

adjective

1. possessing the claimed or attributed character, quality, or origin; not counterfeit; authentic; real.

   genuine sympathy;

   a genuine antique.

2. properly so called.

   a genuine case of smallpox.

3. free from pretense, affectation, or hypocrisy; sincere.

   a genuine person.

   Synonyms: forthright, frank, honest, open, unaffected, true

4. descended from the original stock; pure in breed.

   a genuine Celtic people.

genuine

/ ˈdʒɛnjʊɪn /

adjective

1. not fake or counterfeit; original; real; authentic

2. not pretending; frank; sincere

3. being of authentic or original stock

Pronunciation Note

Two pronunciations of genuine occur, with a sharp social contrast between them. The usual educated pronunciation is , with the final syllable unstressed. Among some less educated speakers, especially older ones, genuine is commonly pronounced as , with a secondary stress on the final syllable, which has the vowel of sign. The latter pronunciation is sometimes used deliberately by educated speakers, as for emphasis or humorous effect.

Other Word Forms

• genuinely adverb
• genuineness noun
• nongenuine adjective
• quasi-genuine adjective
• ungenuine adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of genuine¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin genuīnus “innate, natural,” equivalent to genu, as in ingenuus “native” ( ingenuous ) + -īnus adjective suffix ( -ine ¹ )

Word History and Origins

Origin of genuine¹

C16: from Latin genuīnus inborn, hence (in Late Latin) authentic, from gignere to produce

Synonym Study

See authentic.

Example Sentences

But analysis by the Resolution Foundation think tank shows there has also been a genuine rise in the number of people out of work due to ill health.

From BBC

Public-sector language is purged of all references to genuine history and science, in a campaign George Orwell would have found crude and obvious.

From Salon

Praising the quick-thinking of those at the synagogue, he told the BBC: "I saw genuine heroism, I have to say, and people who ran to help others rather than running away. It was astonishing."

From BBC

“You have to have something savory with something sweet to really enjoy it. I don’t want it to feel generic. It’s a more genuine expression if it has duality.”

From Los Angeles Times

Praising the quick-thinking of those at the synagogue, he said: "I saw genuine heroism, I have to say, and people who ran to help others rather than running away. It was astonishing."

From BBC

Related Words

• absolute 
• bona fide 
• certain 
• honest 
• legitimate 
• natural 
• palpable 
• positive 
• pure