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 (1)
You can substitute generics for brand-name drugs on this health plan.
Recent Examples on the Web
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026
The compromise is mainly symbolic since FCAS is a generic name for such systems and not unique to this plan, but officials have been seeking a formula allowing Macron to relinquish the core fighter without having to declare the whole project dead.
—CNN Money, 9 June 2026
Wayne T Brough, Oc Register, 29 May 2026
That’s likely to add billions of new sales as Amgen and its competitors get to sell their drugs for years longer before generics kick in.
—Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for generic
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Adjective
Third, the greeting was generic.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026
The compromise is mainly symbolic since FCAS is a generic name for such systems and not unique to this plan, but officials have been seeking a formula allowing Macron to relinquish the core fighter without having to declare the whole project dead.
—CNN Money, 9 June 2026
Noun
Real reform requires putting a stop to pharmaceutical companies exploiting the patent system to keep lower-cost generics from entering the market.
—Wayne T Brough, Oc Register, 29 May 2026
That’s likely to add billions of new sales as Amgen and its competitors get to sell their drugs for years longer before generics kick in.
—Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 27 May 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 13 Jun. 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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