GENERIC

generic

(adjective) applicable to an entire class or group; “is there a generic Asian mind?”

generic

(adjective) (of drugs) not protected by trademark; “‘Acetaminophen’ is the generic form of the proprietary drug ‘Tylenol’”

generic

(adjective) relating to or common to or descriptive of all members of a genus; “the generic name”

generic

(noun) any product that can be sold without a brand name

generic, generic wine

(noun) wine that does not meet the minimum qualifications and standards for use of a designation by appellation of origin (where the grapes are grown) or by varietal content; may only be labeled by proprietary (made-up) name, by general color (such as ‘vin rouge’, ‘vino rosso’, ‘rotwein’, ‘red wine’, etc.), or by general class (as ‘vin ordinaire’, ‘vin de table’, ‘vino da tavola’, ‘tafelwein’, ‘table wine’, etc.)

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Adjective

generic (comparative more generic, superlative most generic)

Very comprehensive; pertaining or appropriate to large classes or groups as opposed to specific.

Lacking in precision, often in an evasive fashion; vague; imprecise.

(of a product or drug) Not having a brand name.

(biology, not comparable) Of or relating to a taxonomic genus.

Relating to gender.

(grammar) Specifying neither masculine nor feminine; epicene.

(computing) (Of program code) Written so as to operate on any data type, the type required being passed as a parameter.

(geometry, of a point) Having coordinates that are algebraically independent over the base field.

Synonyms

• (comprehensive): broad, general; see also generic

• (lacking in precision): fuzzy, indefinite; see also vague

• (lacking a brand): unbranded

Antonyms

• (comprehensive): specific, particular, concrete; see also specific

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

Noun

generic (plural generics)

A product sold under a generic name.

A wine that is a blend of several wines, or made from a blend of several grape varieties.

(grammar) A term that specifies neither male nor female.

Anagrams

• energic

Source: Wiktionary


Ge*ner"ic, Ge*ner"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. genus, generis, race, kind: cf. F. générique. See Gender.]

1. (Biol.)

Definition: Pertaining to a genus or kind; relating to a genus, as distinct from a species, or from another genus; as, a generic description; a generic difference; a generic name.

2. Very comprehensive; pertaining or appropriate to large classes or their characteristics; -- opposed to Ant: specific.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

5 June 2025

UNDERLAY

(verb) raise or support (the level of printing) by inserting a piece of paper or cardboard under the type; “underlay the plate”


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Coffee Trivia

The word “coffee” entered the English language in 1582 via the Dutch “koffie,” borrowed from the Ottoman Turkish “kahve,” borrowed in turn from the Arabic “qahwah.” The Arabic word qahwah was traditionally held to refer to a type of wine.

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