Generic

Pronunciation

• IPA: /dʒɪˈnɛɹɪk/
• Rhymes: -É›rɪk

Alternative forms

• generick

Origin

From Middle French générique, from Latin genus ("genus, kind")

Full definition of generic

Adjective

1. Very comprehensive; pertaining or appropriate to large classes or groups as opposed to specific.
• "...the essence is that such self-describing poets describe what is in them, but not peculiar to them, – what is generic, not what is special and individual." — Walter Bagehot (1826–1877)
2. Lacking in precision, often in an evasive fashion; vague; imprecise.
3. (of a product or drug) Not having a brand name.
4. (biology, not comparable) Of or relating to a taxonomic genus.
5. (grammar) Specifying neither masculine nor feminine; epicene.Words like salesperson and firefighter are generic.
6. (computing) (Of program code) Written so as to operate on any data type, the type required being passed as a parameter.
7. (geometry, of a point) Having coordinates that are algebraically independent over the base field.

Synonyms

• (comprehensive) general
• (lacking a brand) unbranded

Antonyms

• (comprehensive) specific, proprietary
• (lacking a brand) non-generic, proprietary, branded

Derived terms

• genericity
• genericness

Noun

1. A product sold under a generic name
2. A wine that is a blend of several wines, or made from a blend of several grape varieties
3. (grammar) A term that specifies neither male nor female.
• 1998, Jacqueline A. Dienemann, Nursing administration: managing patient care...a male-centered perspective...has resulted in false generics in everyday life...

Related terms

• gender
• genus