ge·ner·ic
jə-ˈner-ik 
-ˈne-rik
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
genericness
noun
: a product (such as a drug) that does not have a brand name
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
Renuka Rayasam, Miami Herald, 3 Feb. 2026
Some women have switched from generic medication to available brand names, which costs them as much as $300 a month and are not covered by insurance.
—Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 3 Feb. 2026
Ed Silverman, STAT, 2 Feb. 2026
Long patent exclusivities, limited competition from generics and biosimilars and sustained lobbying success have shielded it from price regulation.
—Robert Pearl, Twin Cities, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for generic
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Adjective
Instead, research generic drug options and look around for the best price on brand names.
—Renuka Rayasam, Miami Herald, 3 Feb. 2026
Some women have switched from generic medication to available brand names, which costs them as much as $300 a month and are not covered by insurance.
—Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 3 Feb. 2026
Noun
The announcement marks a shift for India’s pharmaceutical industry, where companies have historically spent less on research and development than global peers, focusing instead on lower-value generics and contract manufacturing.
—Ed Silverman, STAT, 2 Feb. 2026
Long patent exclusivities, limited competition from generics and biosimilars and sustained lobbying success have shielded it from price regulation.
—Robert Pearl, Twin Cities, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for generic
Cite this Entry
“Generic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/generic. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
generic
1 of 2 adjective
ge·ner·ic
jə-ˈner-ik
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
generic
2 of 2 noun
: a generic drug
—usually used in plural
Legal Definition
generic
adjective
ge·ner·ic
jə-ˈner-ik
1
: common or descriptive and not entitled to trademark protection : nonproprietary
the generic name of a drug
2
: having a nonproprietary name
generic drugs
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