ge·ner·ic
jə-ˈner-ik 
-ˈne-rik
1
a
: relating to or characteristic of a whole group or class : general
"Romantic comedy" is the generic term for such films.
b
: not being or having a particular brand name
generic drugs
c
: having no particularly distinctive quality or application
generic restaurants
2
: relating to or having the rank of a biological genus
genericness
noun
: a product (such as a drug) that does not have a brand name
Synonyms
Examples of generic in a Sentence
Adjective
“Flu” is sometimes used as a generic term for any illness caused by a virus.
a love of big things—big cars, big meals—seems to be a generic trait of the American people
Noun
You can substitute generics for brand-name drugs on this health plan.
Recent Examples on the Web
Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 5 Apr. 2024
Colorado Botanicals Broad-Spectrum CBD Oil for Dogs and Cats may seem like a generic product.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
In many public interviews, Iger has identified streaming advertising revenue as an area where there is potential for exponential growth, especially with more personalized and targeted digital advertising which is far more valuable to advertisers than the old model of generic ads on linear TV.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2024
The study found that a generic vial of insulin could cost between $61 to $111 — as much as 97% less than the current U.S. market price — and still hold onto a 10% to 50% profit margin.
—Meghana Keshavan, STAT, 1 Apr. 2024
There’s nothing generic about this four-door, which has a sporty shape to go with its distinctive light package.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 29 Mar. 2024
Nothing turns clients off more than a generic pitch that doesn’t bother to take into account their needs.
—Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 28 Mar. 2024
The same applies to getting generic business advice.
—Ryan Niddel, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
The concept—a generic catchall for club music born in Latin America and its diaspora—appeared everywhere: in tweets, newsletters, and trend pieces; Instagram notes, Bandcamp tags, and press releases.
—Isabelia Herrera, Pitchfork, 22 Mar. 2024
Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
These drugs are generally covered by insurance, but Ro prescribes them as generics that are cheap enough to pay for out of pocket either way.
—Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2024
But for brand-name medications that aren’t available as generics—because a pharmaceutical company has patented the drug—prices can run high.
—Julia Ingram, Verywell Health, 12 Feb. 2024
The authorized generic, fluticasone, would be the same product, but without the branding and history of price increases that would leave the medicine vulnerable to large rebates to Medicaid.
—Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez, CNN, 13 Feb. 2024
Many of the affected drugs are generics—medications whose patent and exclusivity have expired, meaning any company can legally manufacture them.
—Shi En Kim, Scientific American, 18 Sep. 2023
Bryce Cohen has asthma and wasn't able to make an easy switch to the new generic of the medicine Flovent, his mother said.
—Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez, CNN, 13 Feb. 2024
The Trump administration let insurers use the tactic when cheaper generics were not available.
—John Wilkerson, STAT, 17 Jan. 2024
While the duration of action may vary slightly between different generics, most tend to last around 4-6 hours.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 12 Oct. 2023
Adjective
His character has a generic name, Kid, that marks him as a man who's never been able to find his center.
—Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 5 Apr. 2024
Colorado Botanicals Broad-Spectrum CBD Oil for Dogs and Cats may seem like a generic product.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
In many public interviews, Iger has identified streaming advertising revenue as an area where there is potential for exponential growth, especially with more personalized and targeted digital advertising which is far more valuable to advertisers than the old model of generic ads on linear TV.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2024
The study found that a generic vial of insulin could cost between $61 to $111 — as much as 97% less than the current U.S. market price — and still hold onto a 10% to 50% profit margin.
—Meghana Keshavan, STAT, 1 Apr. 2024
There’s nothing generic about this four-door, which has a sporty shape to go with its distinctive light package.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 29 Mar. 2024
Nothing turns clients off more than a generic pitch that doesn’t bother to take into account their needs.
—Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 28 Mar. 2024
The same applies to getting generic business advice.
—Ryan Niddel, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
The concept—a generic catchall for club music born in Latin America and its diaspora—appeared everywhere: in tweets, newsletters, and trend pieces; Instagram notes, Bandcamp tags, and press releases.
—Isabelia Herrera, Pitchfork, 22 Mar. 2024
Noun
In some countries, these generics become available sooner than in others due to varying patent laws and regulations.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
These drugs are generally covered by insurance, but Ro prescribes them as generics that are cheap enough to pay for out of pocket either way.
—Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2024
But for brand-name medications that aren’t available as generics—because a pharmaceutical company has patented the drug—prices can run high.
—Julia Ingram, Verywell Health, 12 Feb. 2024
The authorized generic, fluticasone, would be the same product, but without the branding and history of price increases that would leave the medicine vulnerable to large rebates to Medicaid.
—Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez, CNN, 13 Feb. 2024
Many of the affected drugs are generics—medications whose patent and exclusivity have expired, meaning any company can legally manufacture them.
—Shi En Kim, Scientific American, 18 Sep. 2023
Bryce Cohen has asthma and wasn't able to make an easy switch to the new generic of the medicine Flovent, his mother said.
—Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez, CNN, 13 Feb. 2024
The Trump administration let insurers use the tactic when cheaper generics were not available.
—John Wilkerson, STAT, 17 Jan. 2024
While the duration of action may vary slightly between different generics, most tend to last around 4-6 hours.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 12 Oct. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'generic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near generic
Cite this Entry
“Generic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/generic. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
generic
1 of 2 adjective
ge·ner·ic
jə-ˈner-ik
1
: not protected by trademark registration : nonproprietary
nylon and aspirin are generic names
—used especially in trademark law
2
: relating to or having the rank of a biological genus
generic
2 of 2 noun
: a generic drug
—usually used in plural
Legal Definition
generic
adjective
ge·ner·ic
jə-ˈner-ik
1
: common or descriptive and not entitled to trademark protection : nonproprietary
the generic name of a drug
2
: having a nonproprietary name
generic drugs
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