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
Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025
These can include the Barnum Effect, in which someone accepts vague or generic personality descriptions as specific and accurate to themselves, or confirmation bias, in which a person places too much confidence in information that affirms their existing beliefs.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 25 May 2025
Erik Sherman, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
Brand name drug companies, many of which are already moving manufacturing back to the U.S. — like Novartis, Eli Lilly, and Johnson & Johnson — are better suited to absorb the cost of the tariffs than makers of generics because margins on their products are so high.
—Joseph Choi, The Hill, 22 Apr. 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
But because nearly every one of these competitions includes the prospect of a USA-Mexico and/or USA-Canada meeting, the generic pressure to participate is far higher than in your average UEFA Nations League match might be.
—Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025
These can include the Barnum Effect, in which someone accepts vague or generic personality descriptions as specific and accurate to themselves, or confirmation bias, in which a person places too much confidence in information that affirms their existing beliefs.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 25 May 2025
Noun
Unbranded generics were far cheaper in the U.S. than in most other countries, running 67% of the prices in the other OECD countries.
—Erik Sherman, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
Brand name drug companies, many of which are already moving manufacturing back to the U.S. — like Novartis, Eli Lilly, and Johnson & Johnson — are better suited to absorb the cost of the tariffs than makers of generics because margins on their products are so high.
—Joseph Choi, The Hill, 22 Apr. 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 29 May. 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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