genuine

adjective

gen·​u·​ine ˈjen-yə-wən 

-(ˌ)win

nonstandard

-ˌwīn 

1

a

: actually having the reputed or apparent qualities or character

genuine vintage wines

… a generous side helping of genuine hush puppies …

—Bud Kennedy

b

: actually produced by or proceeding from the alleged source or author

The signature is genuine.

… replacement parts are often made by foreign companies … and are typically sold at prices far below the cost of genuine equipment …

—Kate Gibson

c

: sincerely and honestly felt or experienced

a deep and genuine love

In the South, manners are all about genuine kindness and compassion.

—Katherine Owen and Katie Strasberg Rousso

d

: actual, true

a genuine improvement

… to achieve genuine peace requires reconciliation among the various groups …

—Gwendolyn Myers

2

: free from hypocrisy or pretense : sincere

Her apology seemed genuine.

… his dedication is not driven by personal gain or resume building but by a genuine calling to serve his community.

—Mike Pineda

genuineness

ˈjen-yə-wə(n)-nəs 

noun

… verify the emerald's genuineness and country of origin.

—Antoinette L. Matlins and A. C. Bonanno

How do you pronounce genuine?: Usage Guide

The objection which some commentators make to the pronunciation \ˈjen-yə-ˌwīn\ is perhaps occasioned by the fact that it is less frequent among speakers of Standard English. However, this variant is well-established enough for it to be recognized as an acceptable pronunciation in all contexts. It was recorded as early as 1890 and appears to be simply a long-standing spelling pronunciation.

Did you know?

Is genuineness the noun form of genuine?

Many people appear to look up the adjective genuine in this dictionary in an attempt to discover the noun form of the word. The closest the English language comes is the rather unwieldy genuineness, meaning “the quality or state of being genuine.” Some possible alternatives to genuineness include sincerity, honesty, integrity, and truthfulness.

Synonyms of genuine

• authentic
• real
• true
• honest

Choose the Right Synonym for genuine

authentic, genuine, bona fide mean being actually and exactly what is claimed.

authentic implies being fully trustworthy as according with fact

an authentic account of the perilous journey

; it can also stress painstaking or faithful imitation of an original.

an authentic reproduction

authentic Vietnamese cuisine

genuine implies actual character not counterfeited, imitated, or adulterated

genuine piety

genuine maple syrup

; it also connotes definite origin from a source.

a genuine Mark Twain autograph

bona fide implies good faith and sincerity of intention.

a bona fide offer for the stock

Examples of genuine in a Sentence

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

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

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

There has been a genuine improvement in the economy in recent months.

She showed a genuine interest in our work.

He has always shown a genuine concern for poor people.

a genuine desire to help others

She seems to be a very genuine person.

Recent Examples on the Web

Making the next step to make sure Brazil are genuine contenders may be the biggest one of all. — Chris Evans, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026

Saibari hasn’t played as a false nine for Morocco, but as a genuine centre-forward. — Carl Anka, New York Times, 4 July 2026

Wisdom teeth may be on a similar path, moving from an afterthought of a dental procedure to tissue with genuine research value attached. — Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 6 July 2026

In its absence, this category is open for business, with Rhys, so good at shifting between his show’s droll humor and genuine terror, an obvious choice. — Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

circa 1639, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing genuine

• the genuine article

Kids Definition

genuine

adjective

gen·​u·​ine ˈjen-yə-wən  -(ˌ)win 

1

: being actually what it seems to be : real

genuine gold

2

: not pretended : sincere, honest

a genuine interest

genuinely adverb

genuineness

-wən-(n)əs 

noun

Legal Definition

genuine

adjective

gen·​u·​ine

: actually having the reputed or apparent qualities or character

specifically : free of forgery or counterfeiting see also genuine issue at issue

genuinely adverb

genuineness noun