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genuine definition

genu·ine (jen′yo̵̅o̅ in)

adjective

  1. of the original stock; purebred
  2. really being what it is said to be or coming from the alleged source or origin; not counterfeit or artificial; real; true; authentic
  3. sincere and frank; honest and forthright

Etymology: L genuinus, orig., inborn, native, hence authentic < base of gignere, to be born: see genus

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

genuine Synonyms

genuine

modif.

  1. Real; said of things

    authentic, true, actual, bona fide, original, veritable, unadulterated, pure, unmixed, undisguised, unerring, official, certified, verified, confirmed, whole, accurate, proved, tested, ascertained, good, natural, unimpeachable, unquestionable, authenticated, substantial, unalloyed, factual, demonstrable, palpable, exact, precise, indisputable, absolute, positive, valid, literal, sound, plain, unvarnished, certain, legitimate, sterling, simon-pure, pukka, legit*, for real*, 18-karat*, the real thing*, honest-to-goodness*, sure-enough*, real live*, in the flesh*, the real McCoy*.

    Antonyms counterfeit, spurious, sham.

  2. Sincere

    real, actual, unaffected, unfeigned, honest, forthright, straightforward, veritable, unquestionable, certain, unimpeachable, definite, uncontradictable, incontrovertible, well-established, known, manifest, reliable, bona fide, staunch, trustworthy, free from pretense, without artificiality, natural, frank, candid, heartfelt, not dissimulated, without hypocrisy, ingenuous.

    Antonyms hypocritical*, affected*, simulated.

genuine is applied to that which really is what it is represented to be, emphasizing freedom from admixture, adulteration, sham, etc. genuine silk; genuine grief; authentic implies reliability and trustworthiness, stressing that the thing considered is in agreement with fact or actuality an authentic report or proceeds from the alleged source an authentic medieval manuscript; bona fide is properly used when a question of good faith is involved a bona fide offer to negotiate; veritable implies correspondence with the truth and connotes absolute affirmation a veritable feast


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

genuine Usage Examples

Modifying Another Word

  • perfectly: The whole community needs to understand this: at times they can, and at times they can't, for perfectly genuine reasons.

Modifies a noun

  • desire: However, Paul always had an interest in the areas of psychology and hypnosis, as well as a genuine desire to help people.

Used with adjective complement

  • seem: He seems genuine in his desire to rebuild the rest of his life.
genuine usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

genuine quotes

I, too, dislike it: there are things that are important beyond all this fiddle. Moore Reading it, however, with a perfect contempt for it, one discovers in it, after all, a place for the genuine.

-Moore, Marianne Craig

genuine quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"genuine." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/genuine>

APA Style

genuine. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/genuine

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