generic

adjective

ge·ner·ic | \ jə-ˈner-ik,

-ˈne-rik\

Definition of generic

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : 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

generic

noun

Definition of generic (Entry 2 of 2)

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

Other Words from generic Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about generic

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Synonyms & Antonyms for generic

Synonyms: Adjective

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

Antonyms: Adjective

individual, particular

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

That cash generation window could lengthen: Competition for Revlimid isn’t likely to emerge from generic drugmakers until 2022. — Charley Grant, WSJ, "Bristol-Myers and Celgene: Side Effects Will Be Temporary," 3 Jan. 2019 But pressure does creep in: At Target, workers who carry online orders to shoppers’ cars now hear a honking horn on their devices, instead of a generic bell, to signify that customers are waiting. — Christopher Rugaber, The Seattle Times, "U.S. retailers hope higher pay will buy more efficient workers," 1 Jan. 2019 Opening an envelope and seeing your name on it is way more impressive than a generic greeting. — Lauren Sanchez, Vogue, "8 Tips from Calligraphists to Improve Your Penmanship Before Thank-You Card Time," 25 Dec. 2018 To avoid being lumped in with generic or rude Furby content on the platform, the true Furby fans on Tumblr label their posts with #furbyfandom. — Kaitlyn Tiffany, Vox, "Every Furby gets a home," 21 Dec. 2018 Drug shortages have been widespread for more than a decade, particularly for inexpensive generic drugs, due to manufacturers consolidating, stopping production of low-profit medicines and having to fix manufacturing problems. — Fox News, "Hospital groups launch own company to make generic drugs," 7 Sep. 2018 The only term bigger than that is mass movement, the generic term for anything falling downhill. — Rachel Becker, The Verge, "Why fire-scorched California is now readying for mudslides," 30 Nov. 2018 Master & Dynamic’s design choices are distinctive on what would otherwise be another generic-looking pair of wireless earbuds. — Stefan Etienne, The Verge, "Master & Dynamic MW07 earbuds review: truly wireless, truly expensive," 18 Sep. 2018 But coaches need to get on board with the idea of weekly injury reports, which would be a positive in the generic sense and a nearly mandatory addition as national gambling laws begin to wield their impact on the sport. — Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY, "It's time for college football, NCAA to embrace injury reports with gambling influence rising," 3 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

So how to explain the way cinema processes so many diverse, nuanced books into generic, nearly identical hunks of cookie-cutter product? — Tasha Robinson, The Verge, "Films like The House With a Clock In Its Walls are poisonous to kids’ cinema," 23 Sep. 2018 Still, Teva has yet to name the price of its generic, ensuring that the FDA’s hopes are indeed true. — Beth Mole, Ars Technica, "Years after Mylan’s epic EpiPen price hikes, it finally gets a generic rival," 17 Aug. 2018 Versed is a brand name for the sedative midazolam, used since the late 1970s and today sold commonly as a generic. — Deb Riechmann, The Seattle Times, "CIA considered potential truth serum for terror suspects," 14 Nov. 2018 The market for generics can respond to policy changes with some speed because copying a drug is much less onerous than new drug discovery and approval. — The Editorial Board, WSJ, "Sticking it to Pharma—With Competition," 19 Nov. 2018 Manufacturing drugs — even generics that are no longer protected by patent — and getting FDA approval is no simple thing. — Dylan Scott, Vox, "The exciting new idea hospitals have to bring down drug prices," 8 Oct. 2018 More generics, some limited drug importation, and more negotiating power for Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans are all improvements that experts do think could make some difference in drug costs. — Dylan Scott, Vox, "The Trump admin has another pretty good, pretty modest plan to lower drug costs," 13 Aug. 2018 In a letter to the FTC, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Sen. Chuck Grassley (D-Iowa) argued there is reason for concern that the same controversial tactic used to thwart the arrival of lower-cost generics is being extended to biosimilars. — Ed Silverman, STAT, "Lawmakers ask FTC to examine whether pay-to-delay deals are thwarting biosimilars," 22 June 2018 India became the world’s biggest exporter of generics almost by accident. — The Economist, "Indian drugmakers need a new prescription," 22 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'generic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.