generic

/dʒɛnəˈrɪk/
adjectiveIntermediate non-specific or common
formal

belonging to a class or group distinguished by common attributes

The drug is available in generic form.

The drug is available in a non-branded, common version.

💡

Often used in medicine to describe non-branded drugs.

informal

lacking individuality or specificity

His advice was too generic to be helpful.

His advice was too vague and common to be useful.

💡

Used to describe something that is too general or not tailored.

Collocations

generic namea non-branded or common name for a productgeneric branda non-branded or common version of a product

Related Phrases

generic namephrase
a non-branded or common name for a product
generic brandphrase
a non-branded or common version of a product

💡Pro Tip

Generic vs. Brand Name

In medicine, 'generic' refers to non-branded drugs, while 'brand name' refers to drugs sold under a specific company's name.

Gold Rule

Avoid Generic Advice

When giving advice, avoid being too generic. Tailor your advice to the specific situation or person.

📖Word Origin

From Latin 'genericus' meaning 'of a kind or race', from 'genus' (kind, race).

📝Usage Notes

In medicine, 'generic' refers to drugs that are chemically identical to branded drugs but are sold without a brand name. In everyday language, it often describes something that is too general or not tailored to a specific situation.

Word Breakdown

gener-
kind, race
root
+
-ic
relating to
suffix
English Dictionary