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Authentic, real, or not fake
She showed me her genuine birth certificate.
The document was real and not forged.
His genuine smile warmed everyone's hearts.
His smile was sincere and not forced.
Often used to emphasize authenticity in contrast to counterfeit or imitation.
'Genuine' often emphasizes the absence of fakeness, while 'authentic' emphasizes originality or authority.
In legal or professional contexts, 'genuine' can have specific meanings, so verify usage.
From Middle English 'genuin', from Old French 'genuin', from Latin 'genuinus' meaning 'natural, innate, genuine', from 'gignere' meaning 'to beget, produce'.
Can be used to describe both physical objects (e.g., genuine leather) and abstract qualities (e.g., genuine kindness).