generic

/dʤi'nerik/
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generic

A generic brand of cereal sits on a supermarket shelf.

Definition
  1. Adjective:

    • Applicable to an entire class or group: Describing something that is common to or characteristic of a whole category, type, or group.
    • Not protected by trademark; not brand-name: Referring to a product, especially a drug, that is not sold under a specific brand name and is often equivalent to a branded product.
    • Relating to or descriptive of all members of a genus: In biology, pertaining to the shared characteristics of a biological genus.
  2. Noun:

    • Any product that can be sold without a brand name: A product, often a drug, that is not marketed under a proprietary name.
    • A wine that is a blend of several grape varieties: A type of wine that does not derive its name from a specific grape variety.
Usage Examples
  • Adjective:

    • The report made some generic statements about economic trends. (The report made statements applicable to the whole economic category.)
    • After the patent expired, many companies began selling the generic version of the medicine. (Companies sold the non-brand-name version.)
    • "Felis" is the generic name for the cat genus. (It is the name descriptive of all members of that biological group.)
  • Noun:

    • The pharmacy often substitutes prescribed brands with cheaper generics. (It substitutes with non-brand-name products.)
    • He prefers a robust generic to a single-varietal wine. (He prefers a blended wine.)
Advanced Usage
  • "Generic term": A word or phrase that applies to a whole class or concept.
    • "Vehicle" is a generic term for cars, trucks, and motorcycles.
  • "In generic terms": Speaking in a general, non-specific way.
    • The instructions were written in very generic terms and lacked detail.
Variants and Related Words
  • Generically (adverb): In a generic way.
    • The product is sold generically at a lower price.
  • Genericity (noun): The state or quality of being generic. (This is a more technical term.)
Synonyms
  • Adjective: General, common, universal, nonproprietary, unbranded.
  • Noun: Non-brand, unbranded product, standard version.
Antonyms
  • Adjective: Specific, particular, proprietary, branded, unique.
  • Noun: Brand-name product, proprietary drug.
Related Phrases/Idioms
  • "Fall into the generic category": To be classified as part of a broad, general group.
    • Many modern action movies fall into the generic category of superhero films.
  • "Generic equivalent": A product, especially a drug, that is chemically identical to a brand-name product.
    • Ask your doctor if a generic equivalent is available for your prescription.
generic

A generic brand of cereal sits on a supermarket shelf.

Adjective
  1. applicable to an entire class or group
    • is there a generic Asian mind?
  2. (of drugs) not protected by trademark
    • `Acetaminophen' is the generic form of the proprietary drug `Tylenol'
  3. relating to or common to or descriptive of all members of a genus
    • the generic name
Noun
  1. any product that can be sold without a brand name
  2. a wine that is a blend of several varieties of grapes with no one grape predominating; a wine that does not carry the name of any specific grape