genuine
Americanadjective
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possessing the claimed or attributed character, quality, or origin; not counterfeit; authentic; real.
genuine sympathy;
a genuine antique.
-
properly so called.
a genuine case of smallpox.
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free from pretense, affectation, or hypocrisy; sincere.
a genuine person.
- Synonyms:
- forthright, frank, honest, open, unaffected, true
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descended from the original stock; pure in breed.
a genuine Celtic people.
adjective
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not fake or counterfeit; original; real; authentic
-
not pretending; frank; sincere
-
being of authentic or original stock
Pronunciation
Two pronunciations of genuine occur, with a sharp social contrast between them. The usual educated pronunciation is , with the final syllable unstressed. Among some less educated speakers, especially older ones, genuine is commonly pronounced as , 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.
Related Words
See authentic.
Other Word Forms
- genuinely adverb
- genuineness noun
- nongenuine adjective
- quasi-genuine adjective
- ungenuine adjective
Etymology
Origin of genuine
First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin genuīnus “innate, natural,” equivalent to genu, as in ingenuus “native” ( ingenuous ) + -īnus adjective suffix ( -ine 1 )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Garda Representative Association said members have a "genuine fear" in pursuing vehicles as they may end up being disciplined or even prosecuted.
From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026
Social media is rife with fabricated satellite imagery, heatmaps and other pseudo forensic visuals used to cast doubt on genuine evidence from the war, researchers say.
From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026
“The big question is whether we’re getting anything in return that makes progress toward a genuine democratic transition,” Ramsey said.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026
This does not reflect genuine strength as much as it signals “temporary resilience,” says Simon Massabni, head of business development at XS, a multi-asset broker.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026
Mama looked right into my eyes and smiled a genuine smile that showed all the sadness around her mouth and behind her eyes.
From Each Little Bird That Sings by Deborah Wiles
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
