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noun Uncommon

genie

JEE-nee

Genie (noun) means a supernatural spirit in Arabic and Islamic folklore, often invisible, capable of taking human or animal form. Example: “In the story, a genie grants the fisherman three wishes.”

noun
1
A supernatural spirit in Arabic and Islamic folklore, often invisible, capable of taking human or animal form.
"In the story, a genie grants the fisherman three wishes."
2
A magical being in stories who serves whoever controls the container it's bound to, typically granting wishes.
"The kids pretended the lamp had a genie trapped inside it."
"Once the genie is out of the bottle, there's no putting it back."

How to Use Genie

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA magical wish-granting spirit from folklore, often pictured coming out of a lamp or bottle.

Common pairings
rub the lamp genie in a bottle grant a wish

Word Forms

genii plural, genies plural, Genies plural

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In the story, a _____ grants the fisherman three wishes.

Etymology

From French génie, itself shaped to resemble Latin genius while translating Arabic jinnī.

Origin: Latin

jinni djinn jinnee djinni djinny

Rhymes for genie

See all rhymes for genie →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “genie” mean?

The word “genie” means a supernatural spirit in Arabic and Islamic folklore, often invisible, capable of taking human or animal form. In plain terms, a magical wish-granting spirit from folklore, often pictured coming out of a lamp or bottle.

How do you pronounce “genie”?

“Genie” is pronounced JEE-nee (/ˈd͡ʒiː.ni/ in IPA).

How do you use “genie” in a sentence?

Here is “genie” used in a sentence: “In the story, a genie grants the fisherman three wishes.”

What part of speech is “genie”?

“Genie” is a noun.

Where does the word “genie” come from?

The word “genie” comes from Latin. From French génie, itself shaped to resemble Latin genius while translating Arabic jinnī.

Is “genie” a common word?

“Genie” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “genie” have?

“Genie” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a supernatural spirit in Arabic and Islamic folklore, often invisible, capable of taking human or animal form.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial