genetic

1 of 2

adjective

ge·​net·​ic jə-ˈne-tik How to pronounce genetic (audio)
variants or less commonly genetical
1
: relating to or determined by the origin, development, or causal antecedents of something
2
a
: of, relating to, or involving genetics
b
: of, relating to, caused by, or controlled by genes
a genetic disease
genetic variation
genetically adverb

-genetic

2 of 2

adjective combining form

1
: -genic sense 1
organogenetic
2
: -genic sense 2
psychogenetic

Examples of genetic in a Sentence

Adjective hemophilia and other genetic medical disorders
Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
Later experiments appeared to confirm what Prentice’s genetic data suggested. JSTOR Daily, 17 Oct. 2025 To test the model, the researchers studied the APOE4 gene variant, the strongest genetic predictor of Alzheimer’s disease. Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2025 Further testing confirmed that the genetic changes came from within the phage itself, as the host remained unchanged when viral genetic mutations were knocked out. New Atlas, 16 Oct. 2025 Tracing their origins is tricky, but historical, ecological and genetic data suggest that sea lampreys and alewives entered Lake Ontario via the Erie Canal during the 1860s. Christine Keiner, The Conversation, 15 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for genetic

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

genesis

First Known Use

Adjective

1750, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of genetic was in 1750

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Genetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/genetic. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

genetic

adjective
ge·​net·​ic jə-ˈnet-ik How to pronounce genetic (audio)
variants also genetical
: of, relating to, or involving genes or genetics
genetic research
also : caused or controlled by genes
a genetic disease
genetically adverb

Medical Definition

genetic

adjective
ge·​net·​ic jə-ˈnet-ik How to pronounce genetic (audio)
variants also genetical
1
: of, relating to, or involving genetics
2
: of, relating to, caused by, or controlled by genes
a genetic disease
genetic material
compare acquired sense 1
genetically adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on genetic

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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