Genuine May Come From a Father's Knee
Genuine means real, not counterfeit. One old explanation traces it to a Roman custom of acknowledging a child by lifting it onto the knee.
Genuine means authentic: really what it claims to be. One traditional explanation links it to Latin *genu*, knee, from a Roman custom in which a father acknowledged his child by setting it on his knee. Etymologists treat the story with caution and connect it to *gignere*, to beget, but the knee has never quite gone away.
- Authentic, not fake. *A genuine signature.*
- Sincere. *Genuine concern.*
- Genuine article — the real thing. *This is the genuine article.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Adjective | genuine | A genuine antique. |
| Adverb | genuinely | Genuinely sorry. |
| Noun | genuineness | The genuineness of the letter. |
| Opposite | counterfeit | Counterfeit notes. |
| Related | authentic | An authentic recipe. |
How it is used in a sentence
- Only genuine parts are covered by the warranty.Trade use, meaning made by the manufacturer.
- She had a genuine interest in the subject.Sincerity, not authenticity.
- It is the genuine article, not a copy.A set phrase.
Genuine, authentic and original
- Genuine — really what it is said to be
- Authentic — of undisputed origin, often about culture or documents
- Original — the first one, not a copy
- Bona fide — in good faith; often used of qualifications
- Counterfeit — an imitation made to deceive
From Latin *genuinus*, natural or innate, connected with *gignere*, to beget. English took it in the sixteenth century, first meaning natural rather than not-fake.
Genuine or authentic?
Almost interchangeable. Authentic is preferred for cultural things and documents; genuine for goods, feelings and people.
Is the knee story true?
It is an old and attractive explanation rather than a proven one. Most dictionaries connect the word to begetting instead.