Reading Theme:

Language:

Font Size:

📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Generic: Definition, Usage & Common Examples (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：not brand-specific (generic)

generic 🔊

/dʒəˈnerɪk/

adj.

not specific to any brand; common and basic, not special or unique.

Generic product example: generic vs branded laundry detergent on a store shelf.

not brand-specific 🔊

➕

/nɒt brænd spəˈsɪfɪk/

adj.

Refers to something that is not associated with a particular brand and is often more basic, common, or less expensive.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'genus' (kind) with suffix '-ic', meaning relating to a kind.

💡 Mnemonic

Think 'general' and 'generic' – both start with 'gen-' and mean not specific.

📖 Example

I just bought a generic brand of cereal because it was much cheaper than the famous one. 🔊 I purchased a cereal that is not a famous brand but a common one to save money.

🔗 Collocations

generic product – a product not tied to a specific brand

generic term – a word or phrase that is general and not specific

generic version – a non-branded alternative to a branded item

🔄 Synonyms

common (adj.) – widely available and not special

standard (adj.) – conforming to a basic type

unspecific (adj.) – not detailed or particular

🚫 Antonyms

specific (adj.) – clearly defined or identified

branded (adj.) – associated with a particular brand

unique (adj.) – being the only one of its kind

🌱 Derivatives

generically (adv.) – in a generic manner

genericity (n.) – the quality of being generic

📖 Cultural Story

Originates from Latin 'genus' meaning kind. In modern English, it commonly refers to non-branded products, especially in pharmaceuticals as generic drugs.

Meaning 2：relating to a genus (generic)

generic 🔊

/dʒəˈnerɪk/

adj.

related to a group in biological classification that includes similar species.

Generic biological classification diagram showing genus level in a taxonomy tree.

relating to a genus 🔊

➕

/rɪˈleɪtɪŋ tə ə ˈdʒiːnəs/

adj.

Pertaining to a biological classification level that groups together similar species.

📁 Category：School Education 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

In biology class, we learned that cats and tigers share the same generic name, *Felis*. 🔊 During a biology lesson, it was explained that cats and tigers belong to the same genus called Felis.

🔗 Collocations

generic name – the scientific name of a genus

generic level – the taxonomic rank of genus

generic classification – the grouping of organisms at the genus level

🔄 Synonyms

taxonomic (adj.) – pertaining to biological classification

classificatory (adj.) – involving the arrangement into classes

group-related (adj.) – associated with a category or set

🚫 Antonyms

specific (adj.) – referring to a particular species

individual (adj.) – pertaining to a single organism

🌱 Derivatives

generically (adv.) – in a generic manner