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.

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