generic

1 of 2

adjective

ge·​ner·​ic jə-ˈner-ik 

-ˈne-rik

1

a

: relating to or characteristic of a whole group or class : general

"Romantic comedy" is the generic term for such films.

b

: not being or having a particular brand name

generic drugs

c

: having no particularly distinctive quality or application

generic restaurants

2

: relating to or having the rank of a biological genus

generically

jə-ˈner-i-k(ə-)lē 

-ˈne-ri-

adverb

genericness noun

generic

2 of 2

noun

: a product (such as a drug) that does not have a brand name

Synonyms

Adjective

• across-the-board
• blanket
• broad-brush
• common
• general
• global
• overall
• universal

Examples of generic in a Sentence

Adjective

“Flu” is sometimes used as a generic term for any illness caused by a virus.

a love of big things—big cars, big meals—seems to be a generic trait of the American people

Noun

You can substitute generics for brand-name drugs on this health plan.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The second half morphs into a fairly generic action set piece, crescendoing to a bitterly underwhelming climax and a conclusion that offers no kind of closure. —Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 26 Dec. 2024

The Food and Drug Administration on Monday approved Hikma Pharmaceuticals’ generic version of Novo Nordisk’s diabetes drug Victoza, which is currently in shortage in the country. —Reuters, NBC News, 23 Dec. 2024

Noun

But evidence compiled by academics in the U.S. and Canada as well as government institutions such as Colombia's health authorities is increasingly showing that some generics are of dubious quality, contaminated or outright fake. —David Cox, NPR, 5 Dec. 2024

Typically, pharmaceutical companies have five to seven years to hold the license for their proprietary product before it can be offered as a generic. —Nicole Villalpando, Austin American-Statesman, 30 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

French générique, from Latin gener-, genus birth, kind, class

Noun

derivative of generic entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1676, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1967, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

generic

adjective

ge·​ner·​ic

jə-ˈner-ik

1

a

: of, relating to, or characteristic of a whole group or class : general

b

: not protected by a trademark registration

generic drugs

2

: of, relating to, or having the rank of a biological genus

generically

-ner-i-k(ə-)lē

adverb

Medical Definition

generic

1 of 2 adjective

ge·​ner·​ic jə-ˈner-ik 

1

: not protected by trademark registration : nonproprietary

nylon and aspirin are generic names

—used especially in trademark law

2

: relating to or having the rank of a biological genus

generically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

generic

2 of 2 noun

: a generic drug

—usually used in plural

Legal Definition

generic

adjective

ge·​ner·​ic jə-ˈner-ik 

1

: common or descriptive and not entitled to trademark protection : nonproprietary

the generic name of a drug

2

: having a nonproprietary name

generic drugs