General Meaning
/ˈd͡ʒɛn.(ə.)ɹəl/Definition, CEFR level A1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Definition
adjIncluding or involving every part or member of a given or implied entity, whole, etc.; common to all, universal.
adjApplied to a person (as a postmodifier or a normal preceding adjective) to indicate supreme rank, in civil or military titles, and later in other terms; pre-eminent.
Sentence Examples
Synonyms & Antonyms
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ǵenh₁- Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Indo-European *ǵénh₁os Proto-Italic *genos Latin genus, generis Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-der.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālis Latin generālisbor. Anglo-Norman generalbor. Middle French generalbor. ▲ Latin generālisder. Middle English general English general From Middle English general, in turn from Anglo-Norman general, generall, Middle French general, and their source, Latin generālis, from genus (“class, kind”) + -ālis (“-al”).