You use generic to describe something that refers or relates to a whole class of similar things.
Parmesan is a generic term used to describe a family of hard Italian cheeses.
Synonyms: collective, general, common, wide More Synonyms of generic
genericallyadverb [usually ADVERB after verb, ADVERB -ed/adjective]
I will refer to child abuse generically (which includes physical, sexual, and emotionalabuse and neglect).
...something generically called 'rock 'n' roll'.
2. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
A generic drug or other product is one that does not have a trademark and that is known by a general name, rather than the manufacturer's name.
They encourage doctors to prescribe cheaper generic drugs.
Generic is also a noun.
Brand names only are given, as generics are not usually prescribed.
3. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
People sometimes use generic to refer to something that is exactly typical of the kind of thing mentioned, and that has no special or unusual characteristics.
...generic California apartments, the kind that have white walls and white drapesand were built five years ago.
generic in British English
(dʒɪˈnɛrɪk) or generical
adjective
1.
applicable or referring to a whole class or group; general
2. biology
of, relating to, or belonging to a genus
the generic name
3.
denoting the nonproprietary name of a drug, food product, etc
noun
4.
a drug, food product, etc, that does not have a trademark
Derived forms
generically (geˈnerically)
adverb
Word origin
C17: from French; see genus
generic in American English
(dʒəˈnɛrɪk)
adjective
1.
of, applied to, or referring to a whole kind, class, or group; inclusive or general
2.
without a brand name
3.
without individual character or distinctive characteristics
4. Biology
of or characteristic of a genus
noun
5.
a product, as a drug or grocery item, without a brand name
SIMILAR WORDS: ˌuniˈversal
Derived forms
generically (geˈnerically)
adverb
Word origin
ML genericus: see genus & -ic
generic in the Pharmaceutical Industry1
(dʒɪnɛrɪk)
adjective
(Pharmaceutical: Drugs)
A generic drug or other product is one that does not have a trademark and that is known bya general name, rather than the manufacturer's name.
Generic drugs are as effective as those with brand names.
Doctors sometimes prescribe cheaper generic drugs instead of more expensive brand names.
A generic drug or other product is one that does not have a trademark and that is known bya general name, rather than the manufacturer's name.
generic in the Pharmaceutical Industry2
(dʒɪnɛrɪk)
Word forms: (regular plural) generics
noun
(Pharmaceutical: Drugs)
A generic is a drug or other product that does not have a trademark and that is known by ageneral name, rather than the manufacturer's name.
Generics are often cheaper than drugs branded with the manufacturer's name.
A generic may also exist as a medicine with a brand name.
A generic is a drug or other product that does not have a trademark and that is known by ageneral name, rather than the manufacturer's name.
Examples of 'generic' in a sentence
generic
There must be a reason for the rash of generic names.
Al Ries and Laura Ries THE 22 IMMUTABLE LAWS OF BRANDING (2002)
Sometimes it is used as a generic term for any man of the common people.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Some people will go to great lengths to turn a brand name into a generic.
Al Ries and Jack Trout THE 22 IMMUTABLE LAWS OF MARKETING (1993)
Do any of these generic brand names ring a bell with you?
Al Ries and Laura Ries THE 22 IMMUTABLE LAWS OF BRANDING (2002)
Doctors already write most prescriptions using the generic drug name.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
By definition a common or generic name is not unique.
Al Ries and Laura Ries THE 22 IMMUTABLE LAWS OF BRANDING (2002)
And none of these are common or generic names.
Al Ries and Laura Ries THE 22 IMMUTABLE LAWS OF BRANDING (2002)
Brand names are something of a generic aberration that has been used to mask the destruction of the environment.
Smith, Drew Food Watch (1994)
To find your particular prescription medicine in this chapter you need to know either its generic or brand name.
Martlew, Gillian & Silver, Shelley (ed) The Medicine Chest - your family's guide to prescription drugs (1988)
The facts about generic drug prescriptions?
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The index of drugs lists both brand and generic names to enable you to find the right fact sheet for your medicine.
Martlew, Gillian & Silver, Shelley (ed) The Medicine Chest - your family's guide to prescription drugs (1988)
Their challenge is there's no more generic a product than a banana.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
This should soften the effect of generic competition to the group's leading brands.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The typical doctor's preference for a branded drug over a generic one is rational enough.
Peter F. Drucker MANAGING FOR RESULTS (1986)
The filmmaker's efforts to do something fresh with generic ingredients produce a flawed but intriguing movie.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
There is no linguistic objection to using they, them and their as singular generic terms.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
And "FedEx" has become the generic term for overnight delivery.
Al Ries and Laura Ries THE 22 IMMUTABLE LAWS OF BRANDING (2002)
After listing products on the generic page, it set up its own virtual store within the site.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It's not just something generic.
Christianity Today (2000)
At age eight I thought of "grandmother" as a generic brand.
Bachmann, Susan (editor) & Barth, Melinda Between Worlds: A Reader, Rhetoric and Handbook (1995)
Those who know the company have a vague idea that it sells generic drugs into the Middle East.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In other languages
generic
British English: generic ADJECTIVE
You use generic to describe something that refers or relates to a whole class of similar things.
...one of the world's leading makers of generic drugs.
American English: generic
Brazilian Portuguese: genérico
Chinese: 通用的
European Spanish: genérico
French: générique
German: allgemein
Italian: generico
Japanese: ジェネリックの
Korean: 총칭적인
European Portuguese: genérico
Latin American Spanish: genérico
(adjective)
Definition
of a whole class, or group, or genus
Parmesan is a generic term for a family of Italian hard cheeses.
Synonyms
collective
It was a collective decision taken by the full board.
general
chemicals called by the general description `flavour enhancer'
common
It is common practice for people to invest in holiday homes here.
wide
The brochure offers a wide choice of hotels and holiday homes.
sweeping
sweeping economic reforms
comprehensive
The book is a comprehensive guide to the region.
universal
proposals for universal health care
blanket
the blanket coverage of the Olympics
inclusive
an inclusive price of £32.90
all-encompassing
Opposites
individual
,
particular
,
specific
,
precise
Additional synonyms
in the sense of blanket
Definition
applying to or covering a wide group or variety of people, conditions, situations, etc.
the blanket coverage of the Olympics
Synonyms
comprehensive,
full,
complete,
wide,
sweeping,
broad,
extensive,
wide-ranging,
thorough,
inclusive,
exhaustive,
all-inclusive,
all-embracing
in the sense of common
Definition
widespread among people in general
It is common practice for people to invest in holiday homes here.
Synonyms
popular,
general,
accepted,
standard,
routine,
widespread,
universal,
prevailing,
prevalent
in the sense of comprehensive
Definition
of broad scope or content
The book is a comprehensive guide to the region.
Synonyms
broad,
full,
complete,
wide,
catholic,
sweeping,
extensive,
blanket,
umbrella,
thorough,
inclusive,
exhaustive,
all-inclusive,
all-embracing,
overarching,
encyclopedic
Synonyms of 'generic'
generic
Explore 'generic' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of general
Definition
not definite
chemicals called by the general description `flavour enhancer'
Synonyms
vague,
broad,
loose,
blanket,
sweeping,
unclear,
inaccurate,
approximate,
woolly,
indefinite,
hazy,
imprecise,
ill-defined,
inexact,
unspecific,
undetailed,
generic,
indiscriminate
in the sense of inclusive
Definition
comprehensive
an inclusive price of £32.90
Synonyms
comprehensive,
full,
overall,
general,
global,
sweeping,
all-in,
blanket,
umbrella,
across-the-board,
all-together,
catch-all,
all-embracing,
overarching,
in toto
in the sense of sweeping
Definition
affecting many people to a great extent
sweeping economic reforms
Synonyms
wide-ranging,
global,
comprehensive,
wide,
broad,
radical,
extensive,
all-inclusive,
all-embracing,
overarching,
thoroughgoing
in the sense of universal
Definition
of or relating to everyone in the world or everyone in a particular place or society
proposals for universal health care
Synonyms
widespread,
general,
common,
whole,
total,
entire,
catholic,
unlimited,
ecumenical,
omnipresent,
all-embracing,
overarching,
one-size-fits-all
in the sense of wide
Definition
covering or including many different things
The brochure offers a wide choice of hotels and holiday homes.