Generic and Particular

Generic

Generic adjective - Belonging or relating to the whole.
Usage example: a love of big things—big cars, big meals—seems to be a generic trait of the American people

Particular is an antonym for generic in topics: collective, common.

Nearby Words: general, generally, generalised

Particular

Particular adjective - Of, relating to, or belonging to a single person.
Usage example: that particular mug is Mike's

Generic is an antonym for particular.

Both words in one sentence

  • Literature / The Song of Roland It is uncertain if Roland's horn, "Olifant," is a particular or generic description.
  • Video Game / Bayonetta If you have not met that particular character in the story yet when you get their trophy, it will be modeled after a generic monk instead.
  • The latter in particular suffered this because he tended to call the series a generic shonen anime, but explaining very little just why it was.
Cite this Source
Particular and Generic. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 16, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/generic/particular
Generic & Particular. N.p., 2016. Web. 16 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/generic/particular>.
Particular or Generic. 2016. Accessed August 16, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/generic/particular.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "generic" and "particular" have occurred on timeline