genuine

B2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈd͡ʒɛn.juˌɪn/ UK /ˈd͡ʒɛn.juː.ɪn/ See IPA manual

Freq #4975

Meanings

1

adj
Real and exactly what it appears to be; not fake.

The expert confirmed the painting was a genuine Picasso.
2

adj
Sincere and honest, not pretended.

She showed genuine concern for her sick neighbor.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · real and exactly what it... echtreal

2 adj · sincere and honest, not... true unfeigned

More actual authentic legit legitimatelubishnaturalnon-fakepukka sterling unadulterated

Opposites

bullshitcounterfeit fake fraudulent inauthenticingenuineknockoff phony

Word family

Derived forms genuinely genuinenessnongenuineungenuine

Related forms actually genus invalid potential valid

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

genuine dilemma
A real situation requiring a difficult choice between conflicting alternatives.

Adjective + noun

Simplified etymology

Genuine entered English in the late 16th century from Latin genuinus and originally meant “natural” or “proper.” The source passage connects genuinus with Latin genu, “knee,” referring to a reported Roman custom in which a father acknowledged a newborn child by placing the baby on his knee.

Etymology

From Latin genuīnus (“innate, native, natural”), from genus, from Proto-Indo-European *ǵenh₁-.

*ǵenh₁- Proto-Indo-European genuīnus Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# genuine

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈd͡ʒɛn.juˌɪn/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈd͡ʒɛn.juː.ɪn/
**Frequency rank:** 4975

## Meanings
1. Real and exactly what it appears to be; not fake.
2. Sincere and honest, not pretended.

## Examples
- The expert confirmed the painting was a genuine Picasso.
- She showed genuine concern for her sick neighbor.

## Synonyms
- actual
- authentic
- legit
- legitimate
- lubish
- natural
- non-fake
- pukka
- real
- sterling
- true
- unadulterated

## Antonyms
- bullshit
- counterfeit
- fake
- fraudulent
- inauthentic
- ingenuine
- knockoff
- phony

## Derived Forms
- genuinely
- genuineness
- nongenuine
- ungenuine

## Related Forms
- actually
- genus
- invalid
- potential
- valid

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *ǵenh₁-
- Root: genuīnus

## Etymology
From Latin genuīnus (“innate, native, natural”), from genus, from Proto-Indo-European *ǵenh₁-.

## AI Etymology
Genuine comes from Latin genuīnus (“innate, native, natural”), from genus, from Proto-Indo-European *ǵenh₁-. In current use, the main senses are “Real and exactly what it appears to be; not fake” and “Sincere and honest, not pretended”.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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