A generic can of soup.
- The definition of generic is something without a brand name.
An example of generic is the type of soap with a store's label that says "soap," but without a brand name.
- Generic means something doesn’t have any distinct qualities.
An example of generic is a general business plan that doesn't have any distinctive details.
- Generic is defined as a product without a brand name.
An example of a generic is the can of soup with a brand issued by the grocery store.
generic
- of, applied to, or referring to a whole kind, class, or group; inclusive or general
- without a brand name
- without individual character or distinctive characteristics
- Biol. of or characteristic of a genus
Origin of generic
Medieval Latin genericus: see genus and amp; -ic a product, as a drug or grocery item, without a brand name
generic
adjective
- a. Relating to or descriptive of an entire group or class: Cancer is a generic term for a group of diseases in which cells proliferate wildly.b. Lacking specificity; general: made some generic remarks about how to save for retirement.
- Biology Of or relating to a genus.
- a. Relating to or being a product that is sold or distributed without any brand name or without a widely known brand name, especially as a discount alternative to a name-brand product: generic soap.b. Relating to or being the official nonproprietary name of a drug, under which it is licensed and identified by the manufacturer.
- Grammar Specifying neither masculine nor feminine gender: generic nouns like waitperson and executive.
noun
- A product or substance sold under or identified by a generic name.
- A wine that is a blend of several grape varieties and does not carry the name of any specific grape.
Origin of generic
From Latin genus, gener-, kind; see gen&schwa;- in Indo-European roots.Related Forms:
- ge·ner′i·cal·ly
adverb
- gen′e·ric′i·ty , ge·ner·ic·ness
noun
generic
Adjective
(comparative more generic, superlative most generic)
- Very comprehensive; pertaining or appropriate to large classes or groups as opposed to specific.
- Lacking in precision, often in an evasive fashion; vague; imprecise.
- (of a product or drug) Not having a brand name.
- (biology, not comparable) Of, or relating to a taxonomic genus.
- (grammar) Specifying neither masculine nor feminine; epicene.
- Words like salesperson and firefighter are often referred to as generic.
- (computing) (Of program code) Written so as to operate on any data type, the type required being passed as a parameter.
- (geometry, of a point) Having coordinates that are algebraically independent over the base field.
Noun
(plural generics)
generic - Legal Definition
adj
In trademark
law, a term or phrase that is merely descriptive and cannot be trademarked;
with pharmaceuticals or other products, a non-trademarked equivalent offered in
competition against a brand-name product.
