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Generic vs Genericism - What's the difference?

generic | genericism |

As nouns the difference between generic and genericism

is that generic is a product sold under a generic name while genericism is the state of being generic.

As an adjective generic

is very comprehensive; pertaining or appropriate to large classes or groups as opposed to specific.

generic

English

(wikipedia generic)

Alternative forms

* generick

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Very comprehensive; pertaining or appropriate to large classes or groups as opposed to specific.
  • :* "...the essence is that such self-describing poets describe what is in them, but not peculiar to them, – what is generic , not what is special and individual." — Walter Bagehot (1826–1877)
  • Lacking in precision, often in an evasive fashion; vague; imprecise.
  • (of a product or drug) Not having a brand name.
  • (biology, not comparable) Of or relating to a taxonomic genus.
  • (grammar) Specifying neither masculine nor feminine; epicene.
    • Words like salesperson and firefighter are generic .
  • (computing) (Of program code) Written so as to operate on any data type, the type required being passed as a parameter.
  • (geometry, of a point) Having coordinates that are algebraically independent over the base field.

    • Synonyms

    * (comprehensive) general * (lacking a brand) unbranded

    Antonyms

    * (comprehensive) specific, proprietary * (lacking a brand) non-generic, proprietary, branded

    Derived terms

    * genericity * genericness

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A product sold under a generic name
  • A wine that is a blend of several wines, or made from a blend of several grape varieties
  • (grammar) A term that specifies neither male nor female.
  • * 1998 , Jacqueline A. Dienemann, Nursing administration: managing patient care

    • Related terms

    * gender * genus

    genericism

    English

    Noun

    (-)
  • the state of being generic
  • * {{quote-news, year=1994, date=June 10, author=Peter Margasak, title=Spot Check, work=Chicago Reader citation
    • , passage=CELL, ERIC'S TRIP 6/15, EMPTY BOTTLE After DGC Records scooped up New York's Cell on the basis of one single, their tedious debut, Slo-Blo, proved the move premature with its indie-rock genericism . }}

    Synonyms

    * genericness