Pertaining to a genus.
Medicinal product which is an equivalent copy of an approved medicinal product (usually after expiry of the patent protection).
Referring to a drug’s basic chemical composition.
Referring to medicine which does not have a special trade mark or brand name given to it by its manufacturer.
Relating to or characteristic of a whole group. The term is often used in connection with drugs, where the meaning is slightly different; in this usage, a drug is “generic” when it is dispensed under its chemical name rather than under the proprietary or trade name of a particular firm’s brand of that chemical. When a drug is initially introduced it typically has been patented, and cannot be manufactured by other firms except under license or until expiration of the patent. When the patent expires, however, other firms may produce the drug under their own trade names. When the patent protection has been removed, the drug may be sold as a generic equivalent (under its chemical name), usually at a lower price than under a brand name.
To the descriptive or nonproprietary (nontrade) name of a drug or other product; for example, diazepam is the generic name for Valium.
Official nonbrand names by which medicines are known. Generic names usually refer to the chemical name of the drug.