genuine

[ jen-yoo-in ]
See synonyms for: genuinegenuinelygenuineness on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. possessing the claimed or attributed character, quality, or origin; not counterfeit; authentic; real: genuine sympathy;a genuine antique.

  2. properly so called: a genuine case of smallpox.

  1. free from pretense, affectation, or hypocrisy; sincere: a genuine person.

  2. descended from the original stock; pure in breed: a genuine Celtic people.

Origin of genuine

1
First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin genuīnus “innate, natural,” equivalent to genu, as in ingenuus “native” (see ingenuous) + -īnus adjective suffix (see -ine1)

synonym study For genuine

1. See authentic.

pronunciation note For genuine

Two pronunciations of genuine occur, with a sharp social contrast between them. The usual educated pronunciation is [jen-yoo-in], /ˈdʒɛn yu ɪn/, with the final syllable unstressed. Among some less educated speakers, especially older ones, genuine is commonly pronounced as [jen-yoo-ahyn], /ˈdʒɛn yuˌaɪn/, with a secondary stress on the final syllable, which has the vowel of sign. The latter pronunciation is sometimes used deliberately by educated speakers, as for emphasis or humorous effect.

Other words for genuine

Other words from genuine

  • gen·u·ine·ly, adverb
  • gen·u·ine·ness, noun
  • non·gen·u·ine, adjective
  • qua·si-gen·u·ine, adjective
  • un·gen·u·ine, adjective

Words Nearby genuine

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use genuine in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for genuine

genuine

/ (ˈdʒɛnjʊɪn) /


adjective
  1. not fake or counterfeit; original; real; authentic

  2. not pretending; frank; sincere

  1. being of authentic or original stock

Origin of genuine

1
C16: from Latin genuīnus inborn, hence (in Late Latin) authentic, from gignere to produce

Derived forms of genuine

  • genuinely, adverb
  • genuineness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012