genetic

1 of 2

adjective

ge·​net·​ic jə-ˈne-tik How to pronounce genetic (audio)
variants or less commonly genetical
jə-ˈne-ti-kəl How to pronounce genetic (audio)
Synonyms of geneticnext
1
: relating to or determined by the origin, development, or causal antecedents of something
2
a
: of, relating to, or involving genetics
b
: of, relating to, caused by, or controlled by genes
a genetic disease
genetic variation
genetically
jə-ˈne-ti-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce genetic (audio)
adverb

-genetic

2 of 2

adjective combining form

1
: -genic sense 1
organogenetic
2
: -genic sense 2
psychogenetic

Synonyms of genetic

Relevance

Adjective

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of genetic in a Sentence

Adjective hemophilia and other genetic medical disorders
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
At 6-months-old, she was diagnosed with Axenfeld-Rieger syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that gradually took away her vision, stunted her growth and caused joint and muscle pain. — Rachel Hale, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026 New methods to determine and analyze the full complexity of the human genome are on the horizon, bringing universal genetic testing within reach. — William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026 Apart from polluting ecosystems and leaving toxic residues on human food sources, these aggressive chemicals drive pests to develop genetic resistance, rendering treatments ineffective over time. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 4 Aug. 2026 Addressing the requirement for players to undergo a one-time genetic screening for the SRY gene on the Y chromosome, Sabalenka made her position clear. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for genetic

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

genesis

First Known Use

Adjective

1750, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of genetic was in 1750

Phrases Containing genetic

Rhymes for genetic

See All Rhymes for genetic

Browse Nearby Words

genethliac
genetic
-genetic
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Genetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/genetic. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

genetic

adjective
ge·​net·​ic jə-ˈnet-ik How to pronounce genetic (audio)
variants also genetical
-i-kəl How to pronounce genetic (audio)
: of, relating to, or involving genes or genetics
genetic research
also : caused or controlled by genes
a genetic disease
genetically
-i-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce genetic (audio)
adverb

Medical Definition

genetic

adjective
ge·​net·​ic jə-ˈnet-ik How to pronounce genetic (audio)
variants also genetical
-i-kəl How to pronounce genetic (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or involving genetics
2
: of, relating to, caused by, or controlled by genes
a genetic disease
genetic material
compare acquired sense 1
genetically
-i-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce genetic (audio)
adverb

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Nglish: Translation of genetic for Spanish Speakers

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