noun
Common
genesis
JEHN-uh-sihs
Genesis (noun) means the origin or beginning of something. Example: “The book describes the genesis of the idea during a long train journey.”
noun
1
The origin or beginning of something.
"The book describes the genesis of the idea during a long train journey."
"The genesis of the company was a single garage in 1998."
"Historians trace the genesis of the conflict back decades."
name
1
The first book of the Hebrew Bible and Old Testament, describing creation.
"The story of Adam and Eve appears in Genesis."
How to use genesis
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe starting point or origin of something, or (capitalized) the first book of the Bible.
Common pairings
the genesis of
book of Genesis
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Word forms
- Plural
- geneses
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The book describes the _____ of the idea during a long train journey.
Etymology
From Greek génesis ("origin, beginning"), related to gígnomai ("to be born, come into being").
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for genesis
thesis
nemesis
exegesis
diaeresis
anamnesis
apheresis
synthesis
antithesis
epenthesis
hypothesis
prosthesis
abiogenesis
See all rhymes for genesis →
Frequently asked questions
What does “genesis” mean?
The word “genesis” means the origin or beginning of something. In plain terms, the starting point or origin of something, or (capitalized) the first book of the Bible.
How do you pronounce “genesis”?
“Genesis” is pronounced JEHN-uh-sihs (/ˈd͡ʒɛn.ə.sɪs/ in IPA).
How do you use “genesis” in a sentence?
Here is “genesis” used in a sentence: “The genesis of the company was a single garage in 1998.”
What part of speech is “genesis”?
Depending on how it is used, “genesis” can be a noun and a name.
Where does the word “genesis” come from?
The word “genesis” comes from Greek. From Greek génesis ("origin, beginning"), related to gígnomai ("to be born, come into being").
Is “genesis” a common word?
“Genesis” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “genesis” have?
“Genesis” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the origin or beginning of something.
What is the difference between lowercase "genesis" and the biblical book "Genesis"?
Lowercase "genesis" is a common noun meaning the origin or beginning of something, such as "the genesis of an idea." Capitalized "Genesis" refers specifically to the first book of the Hebrew Bible and Old Testament, which describes creation.
What does it mean to call something "the genesis of" a movement or idea?
This phrase uses "genesis" in its general sense of origin or beginning, describing the starting point from which a movement, idea, or event developed.
Is "genesis" always capitalized?
No, "genesis" is only capitalized when referring to the specific biblical book; in its general sense meaning "origin" or "beginning," it is written lowercase.
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