generic

adjective ge·ner·ic \ jə-ˈner-ik , -ˈne-rik \

Updated on: 21 Apr 2018

Definition of generic

1 a : 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

—

generically

play \jə-ˈner-i-k(ə-)lē, -ˈne-ri-\ adverb

—

genericness

noun

See generic defined for English-language learners

See generic defined for kids

Examples of generic in a Sentence

“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

Recent Examples of generic from the Web

Soon-Shiong split the companies, keeping the generic drugs in one and Abraxane in the other.

— john wilkens, Pomerado News, "Physician turned entrepreneur begins work with new patients: Union-Tribune and L.A. Times," 13 Apr. 2018
The law required health officials share with the attorney general’s office price information about generic drugs — that is, those not subject to a patent.

— ian duncan, baltimoresun.com, "Maryland law against drug price-gouging is unconstitutional, federal appeals court rules," 13 Apr. 2018
Soon-Shiong split the companies, keeping the generic drugs in one and Abraxane in the other.

— john wilkens, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Physician turned entrepreneur begins work with new patients: Union-Tribune and L.A. Times," 13 Apr. 2018
The law enabled Maryland’s attorney general to sue makers of off-patent or generic drugs that make price increases that are excessive or unjustified by the cost of producing or distributing the drug.

— peter loftus, WSJ, "Appeals Court Strikes Down Maryland’s Drug-Price-Gouging Law," 13 Apr. 2018
Fresenius was eager to expand its business in the U.S., and APP’s sales of injectable generic drugs to hospitals and clinics were growing.

— andrea chang, latimes.com, "Patrick Soon-Shiong — immigrant, doctor, billionaire, and soon, newspaper owner — starts a new era at the L.A. Times," 13 Apr. 2018
In fact, the gummies seem like a pretty generic, harmless vitamin.

— alex warner, Marie Claire, "You Can Now Buy Edible Gummy Bears That "Help You Tan"," 21 Mar. 2018
Paradoxically, perhaps facetiously, dab then nominated Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales as a candidate for the top image (among other, more generic, suggestions).

— ellen airhart, WIRED, "How Wikipedia Portrayed Humanity in a Single Photo," 10 Mar. 2018
Speaking to Spanish radio station Cope, Alonso's comments, while generic, are likely to be used as further evidence of players losing faith in Conte and looking to the next manager in line.

— SI.com, "'He's a Great Coach': Chelsea Star Marcos Alonso Talks Up Potential Antonio Conte Successor," 7 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.

Origin and Etymology of generic

French générique, from Latin gener-, genus birth, kind, class

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1676

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

generic Synonyms

Other Pharmacology Terms

anodyne, cathartic, emetic, emollient, liniment, paregoric, poultice, purgative, soporific, spectrum

generic

noun

Definition of generic

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

See generic defined for English-language learners

Examples of generic in a Sentence

You can substitute generics for brand-name drugs on this health plan.

Recent Examples of generic from the Web

Teva, which has its U.S. headquarters in North Wales, is working on a turnaround after getting bruised by the recent slump in U.S. generics prices.

— yaacov benmeleh, Philly.com, "Teva surges as Buffett's investment stokes hopes of recovery," 15 Feb. 2018
Novartis, meanwhile, is considering a sale or spin off its Alcon eye business, while also weighing options for its U.S. generics business.

— nathan allen and noemie bisserbe, WSJ, "GSK Buys Novartis’s Stake in Health-Care Unit for $13 Billion," 27 Mar. 2018
How to generate competition and savings with biosimilars, which are like generics for living drugs.

— rebecca robbins, STAT, "A billionaire couple is pumping money into the drug pricing debate. Can they loosen pharma’s grip?," 26 Mar. 2018
Lilly's patent on Cymbalta expired in December 2013, and the developer should soon begin to lose revenue to generics.

— john ericson, Newsweek, "'A Pill for Every Ill'," 6 Feb. 2014
OxyContin sales have been dropping in recent years, to $1.7 billion in 2017 from $2.8 billion in 2012, in part because of competition from generics.

— jenny gold, latimes.com, "Under siege for promoting opioids, Purdue Pharma now backs efforts to fight the epidemic," 14 Mar. 2018
OxyContin sales have been dropping in recent years, from $2.8 billion in 2012 to $1.7 billion in 2017, in part because of competition from generics.

— jenny gold, Washington Post, "Opioid Maker Funds Efforts To Fight Addiction: Is It ‘Blood Money’ Or Charity?," 14 Mar. 2018
Amid the fairly large swings in the congressional generic ballot over the last three months, the odds of a Democratic takeover of the House have gone from very high to shockingly low to reasonably strong.

— ed kilgore, Daily Intelligencer, "Democratic Senate Looking Like a Reach — Again," 8 Mar. 2018
If the material occasionally flirts with the generic, these two pros still know how to sell it.

— Philly.com, "Album reviews: Black Panther, Montgomery Gentry, Femi Kuti," 22 Feb. 2018

Origin and Etymology of generic

derivative of ¹generic

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1967

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Other Pharmacology Terms

anodyne, cathartic, emetic, emollient, liniment, paregoric, poultice, purgative, soporific, spectrum

GENERIC Defined for English Language Learners

generic

adjective

Definition of generic for English Language Learners

: of or relating to a whole group or class
: not sold or made under a particular brand name
biology : of or relating to a genus

generic

noun

Definition of generic for English Language Learners

: a product (such as a drug) that is not sold or made under a particular brand name : a generic product

Medical Dictionary

generic

adjective ge·ner·ic \ jə-ˈner-ik \

medical Definition of generic

1 : not protected by trademark registration : nonproprietary

nylon and aspirin are generic names

—used especially in trademark law

2 : relating to or having the rank of a biological genus

—

generically

play \-i-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

generic

noun

medical Definition of generic

: a generic drug —usually used in plural

Law Dictionary

generic

adjective ge·ner·ic \ jə-ˈner-ik \

legal Definition of generic

1 : common or descriptive and not entitled to trademark protection : nonproprietary

the generic name of a drug

2 : having a nonproprietary name

generic drugs

Learn More about generic

See words that rhyme with generic Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for generic Spanish Central: Translation of generic Nglish: Translation of generic for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of generic for Arabic speakers

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generic

Definition of generic

generically

genericness

Examples of generic in a Sentence

Recent Examples of generic from the Web

Origin and Etymology of generic

generic Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

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Other Pharmacology Terms

generic

Definition of generic

Examples of generic in a Sentence

Recent Examples of generic from the Web

Origin and Etymology of generic

Other Pharmacology Terms

GENERIC Defined for English Language Learners

generic

Definition of generic for English Language Learners

generic

Definition of generic for English Language Learners

Medical Dictionary

generic

medical Definition of generic

generically

generic

medical Definition of generic

Law Dictionary

generic

legal Definition of generic

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