genetic

1 of 2

adjective

ge·​net·​ic jə-ˈne-tik 

variants or less commonly genetical

jə-ˈne-ti-kəl 

1

: relating to or determined by the origin, development, or causal antecedents of something

2

a

: of, relating to, or involving genetics

b

: of, relating to, caused by, or controlled by genes

a genetic disease

genetic variation

genetically

jə-ˈne-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

-genetic

2 of 2

adjective combining form

1

: -genic sense 1

organogenetic

2

: -genic sense 2

psychogenetic

Synonyms

Adjective

• hereditary
• heritable
• inborn
• inheritable
• inherited

Examples of genetic in a Sentence

Adjective

hemophilia and other genetic medical disorders

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

But through forensic genetic genealogy, Bygd said investigators tracked down Jon Miller, 84, at his apartment in Owatonna, Minnesota. —Antonio Planas, NBC News, 8 Nov. 2024

Countries are debating mechanisms to share genetic material and formalizing financial programs. —Justin Worland/bogotá, TIME, 29 Oct. 2024

Near the beginning, Altman talks about how our generational achievement isn’t a genetic evolution, but instead, a societal change. —John Werner, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024

On October 11, the CDC received the first genetic sequences from Colorado through its PulseNet system. —Brenda Goodman, CNN, 2 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

genesis

First Known Use

Adjective

1750, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing genetic

• genetic code
• genetic counseling
• genetic drift
• genetic engineering
• genetic fingerprinting
• genetic load
• genetic map
• genetic marker
• genetic modification
• genetic mutation

Kids Definition

genetic

adjective

ge·​net·​ic jə-ˈnet-ik 

variants also genetical

-i-kəl 

: of, relating to, or involving genes or genetics

genetic research

also : caused or controlled by genes

a genetic disease

genetically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

genetic

adjective

ge·​net·​ic jə-ˈnet-ik 

variants also genetical

-i-kəl 

1

: of, relating to, or involving genetics

2

: of, relating to, caused by, or controlled by genes

a genetic disease

genetic material

compare acquired sense 1

genetically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb