generic name
generic name. Trademarks. A term that describes something generally without designating the thing’s source or creator, such as the word “car” or “sink.” • A generic name cannot be protected as a trademark for the thing it denotes; e.g., “Apple” can be a trademark for computers but not for apples. — Also termed generic term; generic mark; common descriptive name. [Cases: Trade Regulation 23. C.J.S. Trade-Marks, Trade-Names, and Unfair Competition § 43.]