genericization

From generic + -ization.

• IPA^(key): /dʒəˌnɛɹɪsaɪˈzeɪʃən/, /dʒəˌnɛɹɪsɪˈzeɪʃən/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

genericization (countable and uncountable, plural genericizations)

1. (uncountable, countable) The process of becoming generic; an instance of it.

   Near-synonyms: genericized trademark (an instance produced by the process); see also Thesaurus:generalization

2. (uncountable, law) With respect to a trademark, the act or process of becoming so widely identified as a reference for a type of product as to cease representing a particular brand or manufacturer of that type of product.

   Synonyms: genericide, trademark erosion

   • 2024 September 19, Scott Cacciola, “Tupperware (the Brand) May Fail. Tupperware (the Word) Will Survive.”, in The New York Times‎^[1]:

     Successful companies have strategies to protect their trademarks and fend off the creep of genericization, Mr. Taylor said.

3. (countable) An instance of this act or process; a generic name thus created.

   Hypernym: generic name

• appellativization