genuine

gen·u·ine

adjective \ˈjen-yə-wən, -(ˌ)win, ÷-ˌwīn\

Definition of GENUINE

1

a : actually having the reputed or apparent qualities or character <genuine vintage wines>

b : actually produced by or proceeding from the alleged source or author <the signature is genuine>

c : sincerely and honestly felt or experienced <a deep and genuine love>

d : actual, true <a genuine improvement>

2

: free from hypocrisy or pretense : sincere

— gen·u·ine·ly adverb

— gen·u·ine·ness \-wə(n)-nəs\ noun

Usage Discussion of GENUINE

The objection which some commentators make to the pronunciation \ˈjen-yə-ˌwīn\ is perhaps occasioned by the fact that it is more frequent among those with less schooling. However, this variant is heard in the speech of cultured or highly educated speakers sufficiently frequently for it to be recognized as a widespread pronunciation at all social levels. This variant was recorded as early as 1890 and appears to be simply a long-standing spelling pronunciation.

Examples of GENUINE

1. There has been a genuine improvement in the economy in recent months.
2. She showed a genuine interest in our work.
3. He has always shown a genuine concern for poor people.
4. a genuine desire to help others
5. She seems to be a very genuine person.
6. But whatever else he is, he is the genuine article. A writer of one terrible book after another, but a writer nonetheless. —Dale Peck, New Republic, 1 July 2002
7. Having had two brothers, a sister and a brother-in-law die violently, he acquired a genuine identification with suffering, particularly that of what has come to be called the underclass. —George F. Will, New York Times Book Review,24 May 1998
8. Like a poem, a genuine essay is made of language and character and mood and temperament and pluck and chance. —Cynthia Ozick, Atlantic, September 1998

Origin of GENUINE

Latin genuinus innate, genuine; akin to Latin gignere to beget — more at kin

First Known Use: circa 1639

Related to GENUINE

Synonyms

bona fide, certifiable, certified, dinkum [Australian & New Zealand], echt, authentic, honest, pukka (also pucka), real, right, sure-enough, true

Antonyms

bogus, counterfeit, fake, false, mock, phony (also phoney), pseudo, sham, spurious, suppositious, supposititious, unauthentic, unreal

Related Words

actual, historical, original; lawful, legal, legitimate; identifiable, recognizable, verifiable; proven, substantiated, validated, verified; incontestable, incontrovertible, indisputable, indubitable, irrefutable, undeniable, undoubted, unmistakable, unquestionable; veritable, very; accurate, correct, proper; pure, unadulterated, unalloyed

Near Antonyms

artificial, factitious, imitation, man-made, simulated, synthetic, unnatural; concocted, fabricated, manufactured; deceptive, delusive, delusory, misleading

See Synonym Discussion at authentic

Rhymes with GENUINE

aerodyne, agate line, alkaline, androgyne, anodyne, anticline, Apennine, aquiline, argentine, asinine, auld lang syne, Aventine, Ballantyne, balloon vine, battle line, borderline, bottom-line, Byzantine, calamine, calcimine, Caroline, catarrhine, Catiline, celandine, centerline, cisalpine, claymore mine, clementine, colubrine, columbine, Columbine, concubine, conga line, contour line, Coppermine, coralline, countermine, countersign, credit line, crystalline, cytokine, dessert wine, disincline, dollar sign, down-the-line, draw the line, eglantine, endocrine, equal sign, Esquiline, exocrine, fescennine, finish line, firing line, Florentine, gas turbine, gregarine, infantine, interline, intertwine, iodine, Johannine, knotty pine, leonine, Levantine, Liechtenstein, limber pine, lubber line, minus sign, monkeyshine, morning line, muscadine, on deadline, on the line, opaline, palatine, Palatine, Palestine, party line, passerine, picket line, porcupine, psittacine, realign, redefine, redesign, riverine, saccharine, sapphirine, saturnine, second-line, serpentine, service line, sibylline, Siegfried line, sixty-nine, sounding line, subalpine, sparkling wine, static line, steam turbine, story line, table wine, Theatine, three-point line, timberline, toe the line, transalpine, Tridentine, turnverein, turpentine, underline, undermine, Ursuline, uterine, valentine, vespertine, viperine, vulturine, waterline, wind turbine, worry line