generic
English meaning: Generic
Definition
A product sold under a generic name.
Example
“Many patients switch to a generic to save money on prescriptions.”
Another example: “The pharmacist offered a generic instead of the expensive brand-name pill.”
Usage — When, Where & How
Most often an adjective meaning general or non-specific, and notably an unbranded equivalent of a branded product, especially medicines ('generic drugs'). As a noun it names such an unbranded product. Common in commerce, pharmacy, and biology (a generic name).
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From French 'generique', from Latin 'genus' (kind, class); entered English in the 17th century, with the unbranded-product sense emerging in the 20th.
Related Words
- generics
- medication
- epithet
- pharmaceuticals
- designate
- holotype
- wholesale
- pharmaceutical
- medicines
- derived
Common Collocations
- generic brand
- generic drug
- generic term
- generic version
- cheaper generic
- generic name
Word Forms
generic (adj/n); generics (pl); generically (adv)
Word Tools
Tools & Calculators
15% of 200 = 30 · 15 is 7.5% of 200
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B