adj
generic
j-NEH-rihk
adj
1
Applying broadly to a whole class or category rather than one specific item; not brand-specific.
"She bought the generic version of the medicine to save money."
"The store sells generic cola alongside the name brands."
2
Lacking any distinctive or original qualities; bland and unoriginal.
"The movie had a pretty generic plot with no real surprises."
How to Use Generic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot tied to one specific brand or original idea — a general, unbranded, or unoriginal version.
Common mistake
"Generic" describing a product (like a drug) is neutral — it just means non-branded, not necessarily low quality.
Common pairings
generic brand
generic drug
generic term
generic name
Word Forms
more generic comparative, generics plural, most generic superlative
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She bought the _____ version of the medicine to save money.
Etymology
From Latin genus ("kind, class") plus the adjective suffix -ic, via French générique.