generic

[juh-ner-ik] /dʒəˈnɛr ɪk/

adjective, Also, generical

of, applicable to, or referring to all the members of a genus, class, group, or kind; general.

of, pertaining to, or noting a genus, especially in biology.

(of a word) applicable or referring to both men and women:

a generic pronoun.

not protected by trademark registration:

“Cola” and “shuttle” are generic terms.

noun

a generic term.

any product, as a type of food, drug, or cosmetic commonly marketed under a brand name, that is sold in a package without a brand.

a wine made from two or more varieties of grapes, with no one grape constituting more than half the product (distinguished from varietal).

Origin

1670-80; < Latin gener- (see gender¹) + -ic

Related forms

generically, adverb

genericalness, noun

nongeneric, adjective

nongenerical, adjective

nongenerically, adverb

pseudogeneric, adjective

pseudogenerical, adjective

pseudogenerically, adverb

supergeneric, adjective

supergenerically, adverb

ungeneric, adjective

ungenerical, adjective

ungenerically, adverb

Synonyms

4. general, nonproprietary, unrestricted.

Examples from the web for generic

Most of them are generic.
Green also recorded some more generic spots for use by other retailers and libraries.
Its oddly generic tone comes courtesy of a stark fact: Newberry has no nickname.
Although Brokaw's advice is helpful and inspirational, it is also generic and familiar.
Insert the generic undefined actor of your choice.
Buckytube is a generic term for cylindrical.
The themes are so generic that I flirted with simply passing off someone else's teaching philosophy as my own.
While their work is primarily generic, there are others working on discipline-specific measures.
The generic characters and simplistic handling of a complex problem will disappoint even those who share her views.
Confidant is generic, meaning either a male or a female in whom one confides; confidante is used only of females.

British Dictionary definitions for generic

generic

/dʒɪˈnɛrɪk/

adjective

applicable or referring to a whole class or group; general

(biology) of, relating to, or belonging to a genus: the generic name

denoting the nonproprietary name of a drug, food product, etc

noun

a drug, food product, etc that does not have a trademark

Derived Forms

generically, adverb

Word Origin

C17: from French; see genus

Word Origin and History for generic

adj.

1670s, "belonging to a large group of objects," formed in English from Latin gener-, stem of genus "kind" (see genus) + -ic. Sense of "not special, not brand-name; in plain, cheap packaging," of groceries, etc., is from 1977.

generic in Medicine

generic ge·ner·ic (jə-něr'ĭk)
adj.

Of or relating to a genus.
Relating to or descriptive of an entire group or class; general.
Not having a trademark or brand name.

n.
A drug sold without a brand name or trademark.

Slang definitions & phrases for generic

generic

adjective

Inferior; cheesy, grotty: Larry King doesn't appear to be generic: he has a distinctive voice, and he doesn't look like anybody else (1980s+ Students)