genetic

1 of 2

adjective

ge·​net·​ic jə-ˈne-tik 

variants or less commonly genetical

jə-ˈne-ti-kəl 

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

jə-ˈne-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

-genetic

2 of 2

adjective combining form

1

: -genic sense 1

organogenetic

2

: -genic sense 2

psychogenetic

Synonyms

Adjective

• hereditary
• heritable
• inborn
• inheritable
• inherited

Examples of genetic in a Sentence

Adjective

hemophilia and other genetic medical disorders

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

That was common practice around the country in the early days of DNA technology, when more genetic material was needed to develop a DNA profile. —Gina Barton, USA Today, 2 May 2025

The British actor, 40, lives with neurofibromatosis, a genetic condition that leads to the growth of tumors in various parts of the body. —Jessica Wang, EW.com, 1 May 2025

The use of investigative genetic genealogy to identify Kohberger is a longstanding issue in the case. —Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 1 May 2025

Researchers did not provide a DNA analysis because of a lack of genetic data on blind skinks. —Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

genesis

First Known Use

Adjective

1750, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing genetic

• genetic code
• genetic counseling
• genetic drift
• genetic engineering
• genetic fingerprinting
• genetic load
• genetic map
• genetic marker
• genetic modification
• genetic mutation

Rhymes for genetic

• acetic
• aesthetic
• ascetic
• athletic
• cosmetic
• diegetic
• aeromagnetic
• antiemetic
• antipathetic
• apologetic
• biogenetic
• biomimetic

Kids Definition

genetic

adjective

ge·​net·​ic jə-ˈnet-ik 

variants also genetical

-i-kəl 

: of, relating to, or involving genes or genetics

genetic research

also : caused or controlled by genes

a genetic disease

genetically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

genetic

adjective

ge·​net·​ic jə-ˈnet-ik 

variants also genetical

-i-kəl 

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

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb