Generic Term
Generic Term
A generic term is a noun or noun phrase that refers to:
- a whole class
- any member of a class as a representative of its class
(English)
- A lion is a noble beast.
- The lion is a noble beast.
- Lions are noble beasts.
- The lions are noble beasts.
Page/s: 510
Source: Mish 1991
Mish, Frederick (editor). 1991.Webster's ninth new collegiate dictionary. Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster. 1,564 pages. 0877795088; indexed 0877795096; deluxe 087779510X.
Page/s: 214–215
Source: Hawkins, J. 1978
Hawkins, John A. 1978.Definiteness and indefiniteness: A study in reference and grammaticality prediction. London: Croom Helm.
Page/s: 136
Source: Crystal 1985
Crystal, David. 1985.A dictionary of linguistics and phonetics. 2nd edition. New York: Basil Blackwell.
Broader Terms
- BT↑ Definiteness
Related terms
- RT⇆ Noun
- RT⇆ Noun Phrase
- ExactMatch: https://glossary.sil.org/term/generic-term
