Generic and Special

Generic

Generic adjective - Belonging or relating to the whole.

Special is an antonym for generic.

Nearby Words: general, generally, generalised

Special

Special adjective - Of a particular or exact sort.
Usage example: you'll need special permission from the fire department to do that

Generic is an antonym for special.

Both words in one sentence

  • As with humans, male is seen as "generic" and female is seen as special with animals.
  • Additionally, some fans are happy with his inclusion but think his moveset is too generic/boring (two of his specials are spin dashes, and his up-special is similar to Mega Man's and Pac-Man's.).
  • A common twist on the more extreme form is that one player has no special win condition; instead, his generic win condition is made easier.
Cite this Source
Special and Generic. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 17, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/generic/special
Generic & Special. N.p., 2016. Web. 17 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/generic/special>.
Special or Generic. 2016. Accessed August 17, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/generic/special.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "generic" and "special" have occurred on timeline