generic Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun 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
    generic wine.
  2. noun any product that can be sold without a brand name
  3. adjective relating to or common to or descriptive of all members of a genus
    • the generic name
  4. adjective satellite (of drugs) not protected by trademark
    • `Acetaminophen' is the generic form of the proprietary drug `Tylenol'
  5. adjective satellite applicable to an entire class or group
    • is there a generic Asian mind?

WordNet

Ge*ner"ic, Ge*ner"ic*al adjective (Also<
  • Generic
  • Generical
)
Etymology
L. genus, generis, race, kind: cf. F. générique. See Gender.
Definitions
  1. (Biol.) Pertaining to a genus or kind; relating to a genus, as distinct from a species, or from another genus; as, a generic description; a generic difference; a generic name.
  2. Very comprehensive; pertaining or appropriate to large classes or their characteristics; -- opposed to specific.

Webster 1913