generic

1 of 2

adjective

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

generically

jə-ˈner-i-k(ə-)lē 

-ˈne-ri-

adverb

genericness noun

generic

2 of 2

noun

: a product (such as a drug) that does not have a brand name

Synonyms of generic

Adjective

• general
• overall
• common
• universal

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

Adjective

According to her research, which is based on claims for 1 million Medicare patients from 2005 to 2019, the average, dosage-unit cost of a generic drug is $4, compared to $157 for brand-name drugs after accounting for rebates. — Chantelle Lee, Time, 23 July 2026

The poll also shows Democrats with an 11 percentage point advantage on the generic congressional ballot. — Sara Dorn, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026

Noun

Around 90% of prescriptions are filled by generics, which are largely manufactured overseas, where costs to make these inexpensive drugs are cheaper. — Amy Feldman, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026

For example Januvia and Janumet, two of the three Merck drugs listed as TrumpRx presidential deals, are available as generics. — Sydney Lupkin, NPR, 16 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

French générique, from Latin gener-, genus birth, kind, class

Noun

derivative of generic entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1676, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1967, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for generic

• chimeric
• dimeric
• homeric
• hysteric
• numeric
• allosteric
• amphoteric
• anomeric
• atmospheric
• chromospheric
• climacteric
• congeneric

Kids Definition

generic

adjective

ge·​ner·​ic

jə-ˈner-ik

1

a

: of, relating to, or characteristic of a whole group or class : general

b

: not protected by a trademark registration

generic drugs

2

: of, relating to, or having the rank of a biological genus

generically

-ner-i-k(ə-)lē

adverb

Medical 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

generically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

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