generic

• generick (obsolete)

From Middle French générique, from Latin genus (“genus, kind”)

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /dʒɪˈnɛɹɪk/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: gen‧er‧ic
• Rhymes: -ɛrɪk

generic (comparative more generic, superlative most generic)

1. Very comprehensive; pertaining or appropriate to large classes or groups as opposed to specific.
   • Walter Bagehot (1826–1877)

     […] the essence is that such self-describing poets describe what is in them, but not peculiar to them, – what is generic, not what is special and individual.

2. Lacking in precision, often in an evasive fashion; vague; imprecise.
3. (of a product or drug) Not having a brand name.
4. (biology, not comparable) Of or relating to a taxonomic genus.
5. Relating to gender.
6. (grammar) Specifying neither masculine nor feminine; epicene.

   Words like salesperson and firefighter are generic.

7. (computing) (Of program code) Written so as to operate on any data type, the type required being passed as a parameter.
8. (geometry, of a point) Having coordinates that are algebraically independent over the base field.

• (comprehensive): broad, general; see also Thesaurus:generic
• (lacking in precision): fuzzy, indefinite; see also Thesaurus:vague
• (lacking a brand): unbranded

• (comprehensive): specific, particular, concrete; see also Thesaurus:specific
• (lacking a brand): non-generic, proprietary, branded

• genericity
• genericness

generic (plural generics)

1. A product sold under a generic name.
2. A wine that is a blend of several wines, or made from a blend of several grape varieties.
3. (grammar) A term that specifies neither male nor female.
   • 1998, Jacqueline A. Dienemann, Nursing administration: managing patient care

     […] a male-centered perspective […] has resulted in false generics in everyday life […]

• gender
• genus

• energic