genuine
adjective
gen·u·ine ˈjen-yə-wən 
-(ˌ)win,
nonstandard
-ˌwīn 1
a
: actually having the reputed or apparent qualities or character
genuine vintage wines
b
: actually produced by or proceeding from the alleged source or author
the signature is genuine
c
: sincerely and honestly felt or experienced
a deep and genuine love
d
: actual, true
a genuine improvement
2
: free from hypocrisy or pretense : sincere
His apology seemed genuine.
genuineness
ˈjen-yə-wə(n)-nəs
noun 
Did you know?
Is genuineness the noun form of genuine?
Many people appear to look up the adjective genuine in this dictionary in an attempt to discover the noun form of the word. The closest the English language comes is the rather unwieldy genuineness, meaning “the quality or state of being genuine.”Some possible alternatives to genuineness include sincerity, honesty, integrity, and truthfulness.
Synonyms
- authentic
- bona fide
- certifiable
- certified
- dinkum [Australian & New Zealand]
- echt
- honest
- pukka
- pucka
- real
- right
- sure-enough
- true
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
But whatever else he is, he is the genuine article. A writer of one terrible book after another, but a writer nonetheless. 
Dale Peck, New Republic, 1 July 2002 Having had two brothers, a sister and a brother-in-law die violently, he acquired a genuine identification with suffering, particularly that of what has come to be called the underclass. George F. Will, New York Times Book Review, 24 May 1998 Like a poem, a genuine essay is made of language and character and mood and temperament and pluck and chance. Cynthia Ozick, Atlantic, September 1998 There has been a genuine improvement in the economy in recent months. She showed a genuine interest in our work. He has always shown a genuine concern for poor people. a genuine desire to help others She seems to be a very genuine person. See More
Dale Peck, New Republic, 1 July 2002 Having had two brothers, a sister and a brother-in-law die violently, he acquired a genuine identification with suffering, particularly that of what has come to be called the underclass. George F. Will, New York Times Book Review, 24 May 1998 Like a poem, a genuine essay is made of language and character and mood and temperament and pluck and chance. Cynthia Ozick, Atlantic, September 1998 There has been a genuine improvement in the economy in recent months. She showed a genuine interest in our work. He has always shown a genuine concern for poor people. a genuine desire to help others She seems to be a very genuine person. See More Recent Examples on the Web Part of this shift reflects a genuine reduction in the virus’s toll. Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2022 But beneath the genuine humility there is a hint of childish delight in the fanfare that has surrounded his centennial milestone. Gretchen Cuda Kroen, cleveland, 17 Sep. 2022 This is the last of the games needed to put them in position to be in position to try and make a genuine bowl push. Zach Osterman, The Indianapolis Star, 16 Sep. 2022 The dance world is not necessarily famous for its earnestness, but lllienium has always been a reliable purveyor of genuine emotion rendered in anthemic form. Katie Bain, Billboard, 16 Sep. 2022 That wasn’t just a gesture to placate Western and Indo-Pacific countries, but an expression of genuine concern about the Russian invasion and its impact. Tripti Lahiri, WSJ, 16 Sep. 2022 Mora’s praise for Harbaugh this week seemed genuine. Michael Cohen, Detroit Free Press, 16 Sep. 2022 Though politics had always been a combat sport, both parties had regularly collaborated, limiting their biggest confrontations to genuine and consequential disputes throughout the Cold War. Michael Bobelian, Washington Post, 16 Sep. 2022 Bridget concludes that Hen is simply not capable of a genuine emotional interaction. Jessica Ferri, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2022 See More
Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2022 But beneath the genuine humility there is a hint of childish delight in the fanfare that has surrounded his centennial milestone. Gretchen Cuda Kroen, cleveland, 17 Sep. 2022 This is the last of the games needed to put them in position to be in position to try and make a genuine bowl push. Zach Osterman, The Indianapolis Star, 16 Sep. 2022 The dance world is not necessarily famous for its earnestness, but lllienium has always been a reliable purveyor of genuine emotion rendered in anthemic form. Katie Bain, Billboard, 16 Sep. 2022 That wasn’t just a gesture to placate Western and Indo-Pacific countries, but an expression of genuine concern about the Russian invasion and its impact. Tripti Lahiri, WSJ, 16 Sep. 2022 Mora’s praise for Harbaugh this week seemed genuine. Michael Cohen, Detroit Free Press, 16 Sep. 2022 Though politics had always been a combat sport, both parties had regularly collaborated, limiting their biggest confrontations to genuine and consequential disputes throughout the Cold War. Michael Bobelian, Washington Post, 16 Sep. 2022 Bridget concludes that Hen is simply not capable of a genuine emotional interaction. Jessica Ferri, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin genuinus innate, genuine; akin to Latin gignere to beget — more at kin
First Known Use
circa 1639, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing genuine
Kids Definition
genuine
adjective
gen·u·ine ˈjen-yə-wən
1
: actual, real, or true : not false or fake
genuine gold
2
: sincere and honest
She showed genuine interest.
Legal Definition
genuine
adjective
gen·u·ine
: actually having the reputed or apparent qualities or character
specifically : free of forgery or counterfeiting see also genuine issue at issue
genuine
adjective
1
as in authentic
being exactly as appears or as claimed had a genuine van Gogh hanging in their living room Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- authentic
- real
- honest
- true
- original
- unmistakable
- actual
- certified
- pure
- certifiable
- legitimate
- historical
- for real
- bona fide
- identifiable
- very
- pukka
- echt
- dinkum
- right
- sure-enough
- verifiable
- legal
- pucka
- unquestionable
- recognizable
- lawful
- undeniable
- undoubted
- proven
- accurate
- validated
- indisputable
- verified
- indubitable
- incontrovertible
- irrefutable
- unadulterated
- substantiated
- incontestable
- veritable
- correct
- proper
- unalloyed
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- fake
- phony
- counterfeit
- false
- bogus
- spurious
- imitation
- phoney
- pseudo
- unreal
- artificial
- synthetic
- sham
- mock
- supposititious
- simulated
- factitious
- unauthentic
- unnatural
- manufactured
- suppositious
- deceptive
- fabricated
- misleading
- man-made
- delusive
- concocted
- delusory
2
as in honest
free from any intent to deceive or impress others genuine compliments about her boss's flair for fashion Synonyms & Similar Words
- honest
- unaffected
- true
- real
- sincere
- simple
- innocent
- naive
- spontaneous
- natural
- guileless
- straightforward
- ingenuous
- unpretentious
- inexperienced
- artless
- unpretending
- candid
- naïve
- trustful
- direct
- childlike
- unsophisticated
- frank
- trusting
- unworldly
- unforced
- on the level
- open
- impressionable
- openhearted
- persuadable
- plain
- unstudied
- malleable
- plainspoken
- persuasible
- free
- simpleminded
- dewy-eyed
- wide-eyed
- unguarded
- gullible
- susceptible
- gee-whiz
- straight
- free-spoken
- exploitable
- single-minded
- unwary
- gullable
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- fake
- false
- critical
- phony
- artificial
- phoney
- insincere
- assuming
- dishonest
- artful
- suspicious
- skeptical
- cynical
- affected
- wary
- pretentious
- sophisticated
- worldly
- cosmopolitan
- mistrustful
- polished
- cultured
- civilized
- subtle
- cultivated
- refined
- deceptive
- dissimulating
- dissembling
- guileful
- hypocritical
- smooth
- sharp
- deceitful
- manipulative
- shrewd
- cunning
- devious
- crooked
- sly
- slick
- wily
- crafty
- worldly-wise
- tricky
- slippery
- feigned
- shifty
- flattering
- underhanded
- foxy
- designing
- unctuous
- sycophantic
- calculating
- arch
- scheming
- canny
- strained
- two-faced
- knavish
- forced
- double-dealing
- mealymouthed
3
as in real
existing in fact and not merely as a possibility there's genuine value in learning how to do household repairs on one's own Synonyms & Similar Words
- real
- actual
- true
- factual
- very
- concrete
- effective
- existent
- literal
- authentic
- final
- proven
- valid
- de facto
- substantiated
- sure-enough
- substantial
- unquestionable
- unmistakable
- validated
- absolute
- authenticated
- undeniable
- convincing
- realistic
- tangible
- demonstrated
- positive
- attested
- verified
- verifiable
- believable
- indisputable
- indubitable
- incontrovertible
- irrefutable
- established
- confirmed
- incontestable
- objective
- certain
- inescapable
- authoritative
- palpable
- bona fide
- certified
- real-life
- real-world
- certifiable
- hard
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- potential
- possible
- theoretical
- ideal
- hypothetical
- alleged
- theoretic
- nonexistent
- platonic
- conjectural
- suppositional
- supposed
- fictitious
- reputed
- assumed
- fictional
- fake
- legendary
- illusory
- romantic
- fanciful
- fabled
- imaginary
- inexistent
- imagined
- envisioned
- chimerical
- conceived
- pictured
- envisaged
- chimeric
- visualized
- symbolic
- unreal
- pretend
- invented
- fabricated
- abstract
- virtual
- made-up
- make-believe
Synonym Chooser
The words authentic and bona fide are common synonyms of genuine. While all three words mean "being actually and exactly what is claimed," genuine implies actual character not counterfeited, imitated, or adulterated; it also connotes definite origin from a source.
genuine piety
genuine maple syrup
a genuine Mark Twain autograph
While in some cases nearly identical to genuine, authentic implies being fully trustworthy as according with fact; it can also stress painstaking or faithful imitation of an original.
an authentic account of the perilous journey
an authentic reproduction
authentic Vietnamese cuisine
The words bona fide and genuine are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, bona fide implies good faith and sincerity of intention.
a bona fide offer for the stock