ENGLISH
REFERENCE

genetic

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //dʒəˈnɛtɪk// UK //dʒɛnˈɛtɪk// ge·net·ic General-service

adj. related to your genes or the way physical traits pass from parents to children. It describes things you are born with because of your family history.

adj. relating to genes or heredity; describing the biological process by which characteristics are passed from one generation to the next.


SIMPLE

Eye color is a genetic trait passed down from parents.

CONTEXTUAL

Scientists are studying the genetic code of the plant to understand why it survives in such dry soil.

COMPLEX

While environmental factors certainly influence health, many chronic conditions have a strong genetic component that predisposes certain individuals to illness regardless of their lifestyle choices.

Synonyms
Origin

Coined from genesis, similarly to antithesis, antithetic. Reflects Ancient Greek γενετικός (genetikós), from γένεσις (génesis) + -κός (-kós). Ultimately from Ancient Greek γίγνομαι (gígnomai, “I come into being”). By surface analysis, gene + -tic or gen(esis) + -etic.

Usage

Typically used as an attributive adjective before a noun.

Pitfall

He has a genetic of heart diseaseHe has a genetic predisposition to heart diseaseGenetic is an adjective and cannot function as a noun; it must modify a noun like 'trait', 'disorder', or 'link'.

Idioms1 entry

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