GENERIC


Meaning of GENERIC in English

(~s)

1.

You use ~ to describe something that refers or relates to a whole class of similar things.

Parmesan is a ~ term used to describe a family of hard Italian cheeses.

? specific

ADJ: usu ADJ n

~ally

I will refer to child abuse ~ally (which includes physical, sexual, and emotional abuse and neglect).

...something ~ally called ‘rock ‘n’ roll’.

ADV: usu ADV after v, ADV -ed/adj, also ADV with cl

2.

A ~ drug or other product is one that does not have a trademark and that is known by a general name, rather than the manufacturer’s name.

They encourage doctors to prescribe cheaper ~ drugs instead of more expensive brand names.

? branded

ADJ: usu ADJ n

Generic is also a noun.

The program saved $11 million in 1988 by substituting ~s for brand-name drugs.

N-COUNT

3.

People sometimes use ~ to refer to something that is exactly typical of the kind of thing mentioned, and that has no special or unusual characteristics.

...~ California apartments, the kind that have white walls and white drapes and were built five years ago.

= archetypal

ADJ: ADJ n

Collins COBUILD.      Толковый словарь английского языка для изучающих язык Коллинз COBUILD (международная база данных языков Бирмингемского университета) .