genuine
Word facts
Definition of Genuine
Not counterfeit, spurious, false, or adulterated Belonging to, or proceeding from the original stock; native
Example sentences
She gave him a genuine smile that lit up her whole face.
Make sure the painting is genuine before you agree to buy it.
Using Genuine well
A closer look at how genuine is used — meaning in plain English, how close synonyms differ, and examples at different levels.
Real and true, not fake, copied, or pretended.
Use 'genuine' to stress that something is authentic and sincere rather than counterfeit or put on, whether it's a leather bag, an emotion, or a person's warmth. It works well when you want to vouch for realness.
Common in reviews, sales, and descriptions of people or feelings ('genuine leather', 'a genuine smile', 'genuine concern').
Don't confuse 'genuine' with 'ingenuous' (innocent and frank) or 'ingenious' (cleverly inventive); despite the overlap in letters, they are unrelated in meaning.
- authentic
- More formal and often about verified origin or cultural truth ('authentic cuisine'); overlaps with genuine but sounds more official.
- sincere
- Applies mainly to feelings and intentions, meaning honestly meant, rather than to physical objects.
- real
- Plainer and broader; emphasizes existence or truth generally, without the specific 'not counterfeit' sense of genuine.
- heartfelt
- Warmer and emotional; stresses deep, earnest feeling, narrower than genuine and only for emotions or expressions.
- bona fide
- Formal and often legal; signals officially real and in good faith, more technical than everyday genuine.
- fake
- Plainly not real; a counterfeit or imitation.
- counterfeit
- A deliberate, often illegal copy made to deceive, usually of money or goods.
- insincere
- For feelings and behavior that are pretended rather than truly meant.
- phony
- Informal; fake in a way that feels deceptive or pretentious.
- Beginner She gave me a genuine smile when we met.
- In writing His apology sounded genuine, free of the excuses that usually followed his mistakes.
- Advanced The museum's task is to tell the genuine from the merely old, since age alone never guarantees authenticity.
Link 'genuine' to 'genuine leather' tags: the word marks the real thing rather than an imitation.
Synonyms for Genuine
Antonyms for Genuine
Related words
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Words that rhyme with Genuine
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FAQ
Questions people ask
What does genuine mean?
Not counterfeit, spurious, false, or adulterated Belonging to, or proceeding from the original stock; native. It is an adjective.
How many syllables does genuine have?
Genuine has 3 syllables: jehn·yuh·wuhn. The word is broken into 3 spoken beats.
What part of speech is genuine?
Genuine is used as an adjective. As an adjective, it describes or modifies a noun.
What are synonyms for genuine?
Words with similar meanings to genuine include good, true, authentic, bona fide. The best synonym depends on the exact context you are writing or reading in.
How do you use genuine in a sentence?
Example: "She gave him a genuine smile that lit up her whole face."