generic term

Frequency: 7.916.2 per million words

A word or phrase that is a common name for a product or service, often one that was originally a brand name.

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Examples (20)

  • In everyday speech, “Kleenex” has become a generic term for any tissue.
  • 'Fruit' is a generic term that includes apples, oranges, and bananas.
  • Please use the generic term rather than the brand name in this report.
  • The lawyer argued that the brand name had become a generic term for all similar products.
  • What is the generic term for this type of adhesive bandage?
  • In biology, 'organism' is a generic term for any living thing.
  • “Hoover” is often misused as a generic term for vacuum cleaners in the UK.
  • Sometimes people use a generic term when they cannot remember the specific name of an object.
  • The court ruled that the word had become a generic term and lost trademark protection.
  • 'Vehicle' is a generic term for cars, trucks, buses, and motorcycles.
  • In academic writing, prefer the generic term unless the brand is directly relevant.
  • The patent application was denied because the name was considered a generic term.
  • Over time, “Xerox” shifted from a brand to a generic term in casual conversation.
  • Is there a more specific word we can use, or should we just stick with a generic term?
  • The style guide warns against treating “Google” as a generic term for web search.
  • 'Furniture' is the generic term we use to describe tables, chairs, and desks.
  • Could you suggest a clearer generic term that covers both products?
  • The dictionary defines 'tool' as a generic term for any implement used for manual work.
  • We catalog items under the generic term so users can find equivalents across brands.
  • Avoid using a generic term if you want your technical writing to be as precise as possible.