gen ‧ u ‧ ine S3 W3 /ˈdʒenjuən, ˈdʒenjuɪn/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: genuinus 'born, genuine' ]
1 . a genuine feeling, desire etc is one that you really feel, not one you pretend to feel SYN sincere
genuine interest/concern/desire etc
The reforms are motivated by a genuine concern for the disabled.
a genuine fear of invasion
‘Did he really?’ Her surprise seemed genuine.
2 . something genuine really is what it seems to be SYN real :
We need laws that will protect genuine refugees.
The strap is genuine leather.
3 . someone who is genuine is honest and friendly and you feel you can trust them OPP false :
She is the most genuine person I’ve ever met.
4 . the genuine article
a) informal a person or thing that is a true example of their type:
If you want to meet a real Southerner, Jake is the genuine article.
b) something that is real and is not a copy intended to deceive people:
Some fake designer clothes are so good that people have no idea they’re not buying the genuine article.
—genuinely adverb :
The boy seemed genuinely interested.
—genuineness noun [uncountable]
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ genuine used about a feeling, thing, or person that really is what they seem to be:
genuine concern
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Experts believe that the painting is genuine.
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genuine refugees
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a genuine reason for taking time off work
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If a student has genuine religious objections to a school activity, they do not have to participate.
▪ real not false or artificial:
real wood
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His real name is Reginald.
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It looks just like the real thing.
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Are those flowers real or artificial?
▪ authentic authentic food, music, clothes etc are correct for the place or the period in history that they are supposed to be from:
It’s a friendly restaurant offering authentic Greek food.
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authentic medieval instruments
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The dancers wore authentic Native American designs.
▪ true [only before noun] having all the qualities you would expect a particular type of person or thing to have:
a true friend
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She is a true professional.
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Being a true Red Sox fan, he never missed a game.
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True Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
▪ bona fide /ˌbəʊnə ˈfaɪdi $ ˈbəʊnə faɪd/ [usually before noun] bona fide people or things are really what they say they are, especially when this can be checked by looking at official documents:
a bona fide medical qualification
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a bona fide company
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This club is only open to bona fide members.
▪ hard evidence/facts evidence or facts that are genuine and can be proved:
There was no hard evidence to support the theory.