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
Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave the green light to a new generic version of mifepristone on Tuesday, Drugmaker Evita Solutions announced on its website.
—Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Oct. 2025
Given that Europe’s drug exports may be exempted by virtue of the tariff agreement reached this year and a significant portion of drug exports from Asia are generics, the true potential impact of this policy remains murky.
—Joseph Choi, The Hill, 28 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for generic
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
Only three shops in Jerusalem carry the generic beige rolls that bundle, hold and seal.
—Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave the green light to a new generic version of mifepristone on Tuesday, Drugmaker Evita Solutions announced on its website.
—Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
Most drugs Americans take are generic, and our research shows that Americans pay the lowest prices for generics compared to European country residents.
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Oct. 2025
Given that Europe’s drug exports may be exempted by virtue of the tariff agreement reached this year and a significant portion of drug exports from Asia are generics, the true potential impact of this policy remains murky.
—Joseph Choi, The Hill, 28 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for generic
Cite this Entry
“Generic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/generic. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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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