generic name meaning: definition, quotations

generic name

noun

Biology, Natural sciences, Taxonomy The first word in a binominal name, which identifies the genus of the lifeform considered.

Holonyms: species name (the binomial unit), binominal name, binomial name
Its generic name is Staphylococcus, but you may know it better by the common name staph.

Medicine, Pharmacology, Sciences A nonproprietary name given to a drug that is used to identify it irrespective of trademark.

Its generic name is rosuvastatin, but you may know it better by the proprietary name Crestor.
Seconal is the commercial name of the barbiturate quinalbarbitone. Its generic name is secobarbital.2001 October 14, Jason Burke, “Death of a princess”, in The Observer, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 10 May 2014:

Business, Commerce A similar nonproprietary name for any other product or service, denoting any member of the category.

Its generic name is flying disc, but you may know it better by the proprietary name Frisbee. The generic name frisbee (lowercase) is used informally but not officially or legally.