TERMIUM Plus®
From: Translation Bureau
On social media
Consult the Government of Canada’s terminology data bank.
NOM GENERIQUE [8 records]
Record 1 - internal organization data 2013-05-01
Record 1, English
Record 1, Subject field(s)
- Standards and Regulations (Chemistry)
- Pharmacology
Record 1, Main entry term, English
- nonproprietary name
1, record 1, English, nonproprietary%20name
correct
Record 1, Abbreviations, English
Record 1, Synonyms, English
- non-proprietary name 2, record 1, English, non%2Dproprietary%20name
correct
- generic name 3, record 1, English, generic%20name
correct
- chemical generic name 4, record 1, English, chemical%20generic%20name
correct
- public name 5, record 1, English, public%20name
avoid
Record 1, Textual support, English
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Every drug receives three distinct names: the chemical name, the generic (or nonproprietary) name, and the brand (or proprietary or trademark) name. ... The generic name is commonly used by health care professionals and is usually created when a new drug is ready to be marketed. Although the manufacturer or sponsor of the drug has exclusive right of manufacture during the 17 years of the drug's patent, it never owns the generic name. ... In the United States, the generic name must first be approved by the U.S. Adopted Name (USAN) Council and then by the World Health Organization (WHO). ... After approving the generic name, the Council submits the name to WHO, which has final approval. ... After being approved by WHO, the drug is assigned an international nonproprietary name. 6, record 1, English, - nonproprietary%20name
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 2 CONT
Once a chemical substance has become frequently cited in the literature, it will be identified with simplified nomenclature popularly known as a "generic" name. This nonproprietary name is preferred in database indexing over all other types of drug nomenclature. MEDLINE [registered trademark] cites the United States Adopted Name (USAN) as a standard, when available. USANs are officially approved designations adopted by the FDA for uniformity in labeling and regulatory references. EMBASE®, on the other hand, prefers International Nonproprietary Names (INNs), promulgated by the World Health Organization, as drug descriptors. Caution: the USAN and INN "generic" name for the same drug may differ. Other official nomenclature standards include: British Approved Name (BAN), Nordiska Farmakopenamden (NFN), and Dénomination Commune Francaise (DCF). 7, record 1, English, - nonproprietary%20name
Record 1, French
Record 1, Domaine(s)
- Normes et réglementation (Chimie)
- Pharmacologie
Record 1, Main entry term, French
- dénomination commune
1, record 1, French, d%C3%A9nomination%20commune
correct, feminine noun
Record 1, Abbreviations, French
Record 1, Synonyms, French
- nom générique 2, record 1, French, nom%20g%C3%A9n%C3%A9rique
correct, masculine noun
Record 1, Textual support, French
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Nom auquel ne s'attache aucun droit de propriété, tels les noms officiellement agréés, les noms de pharmacopée ou les dénominations libres. 3, record 1, French, - d%C3%A9nomination%20commune
Record 1, Spanish
Record 1, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Normas y reglamentaciones (Química)
- Farmacología
Record 1, Main entry term, Spanish
- denominación común
1, record 1, Spanish, denominaci%C3%B3n%20com%C3%BAn
feminine noun
Record 1, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 1, Synonyms, Spanish
- nombre genérico 1, record 1, Spanish, nombre%20gen%C3%A9rico
masculine noun
Record 1, Textual support, Spanish
Record 2 - internal organization data 2012-03-19
Record 2, English
Record 2, Subject field(s)
- Trademarks (Law)
- Trade
- Commercial Law
Record 2, Main entry term, English
- generic name
1, record 2, English, generic%20name
correct
Record 2, Abbreviations, English
Record 2, Synonyms, English
Record 2, Textual support, English
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
The name by which a certain type of product is identified, as distinguished from its brand name ... 2, record 2, English, - generic%20name
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 CONT
A term is a generic name, not a trade name, if it "merely identifies the genus of which the particular [business] is a species." 3, record 2, English, - generic%20name
Record 2, French
Record 2, Domaine(s)
- Marques de commerce (Droit)
- Commerce
- Droit commercial
Record 2, Main entry term, French
- nom générique
1, record 2, French, nom%20g%C3%A9n%C3%A9rique
correct, masculine noun
Record 2, Abbreviations, French
Record 2, Synonyms, French
- appellation générique 2, record 2, French, appellation%20g%C3%A9n%C3%A9rique
correct, feminine noun
- dénomination générique 3, record 2, French, d%C3%A9nomination%20g%C3%A9n%C3%A9rique
correct, feminine noun
Record 2, Textual support, French
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Nom que porte un produit indépendamment des marques sous lesquelles il est commercialisé. 4, record 2, French, - nom%20g%C3%A9n%C3%A9rique
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 CONT
[...] le terme «Diesel» ne pourra constituer une marque valable pour désigner des véhicules à moteur, mais pourra par contre incontestablement constituer une telle marque pour désigner des vêtements dès lors qu'il ne constitue pas la dénomination générique de tels produits [...] 3, record 2, French, - nom%20g%C3%A9n%C3%A9rique
Record 2, Spanish
Record 2, Textual support, Spanish
Record 3 - internal organization data 2011-07-19
Record 3, English
Record 3, Subject field(s)
- Informatics
Record 3, Main entry term, English
- generic top-level domain name
1, record 3, English, generic%20top%2Dlevel%20domain%20name
correct
Record 3, Abbreviations, English
- gTLD 1, record 3, English, gTLD
correct
Record 3, Synonyms, English
Record 3, Textual support, English
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 DEF
A top-level domain name of an Internet address that identifies it generically as associated with some domain class. 1, record 3, English, - generic%20top%2Dlevel%20domain%20name
Record 3, French
Record 3, Domaine(s)
- Informatique
Record 3, Main entry term, French
- nom de domaine de premier niveau générique
1, record 3, French, nom%20de%20domaine%20de%20premier%20niveau%20g%C3%A9n%C3%A9rique
correct, masculine noun
Record 3, Abbreviations, French
Record 3, Synonyms, French
Record 3, Textual support, French
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Au premier niveau de l'adresse, la marge de manœuvre est donc assez étroite pour les dirigeants d'une entreprise. Le choix d'un nom de domaine de premier niveau générique (.com) ou géographique (.fr) peut simplement traduire le souhait de son propriétaire de poursuivre son activité sur l'ensemble du globe ou de s'approprier une zone géographique déterminée. 1, record 3, French, - nom%20de%20domaine%20de%20premier%20niveau%20g%C3%A9n%C3%A9rique
Record 3, Spanish
Record 3, Textual support, Spanish
Record 4 - internal organization data 2004-08-25
Record 4, English
Record 4, Subject field(s)
- Information Processing (Informatics)
- Internet and Telematics
Record 4, Main entry term, English
- generic name
1, record 4, English, generic%20name
correct, standardized
Record 4, Abbreviations, English
Record 4, Synonyms, English
Record 4, Textual support, English
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Term standardized by AFNOR. 2, record 4, English, - generic%20name
Record 4, French
Record 4, Domaine(s)
- Traitement de l'information (Informatique)
- Internet et télématique
Record 4, Main entry term, French
- nom générique
1, record 4, French, nom%20g%C3%A9n%C3%A9rique
correct, masculine noun, standardized
Record 4, Abbreviations, French
Record 4, Synonyms, French
Record 4, Textual support, French
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Nom d'un ensemble d'objets. 1, record 4, French, - nom%20g%C3%A9n%C3%A9rique
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Un titre générique est un cas particulier d'un nom générique. 1, record 4, French, - nom%20g%C3%A9n%C3%A9rique
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 2 OBS
Terme et définition normalisés par l'AFNOR. 2, record 4, French, - nom%20g%C3%A9n%C3%A9rique
Record 4, Spanish
Record 4, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Tratamiento de la información (Informática)
- Internet y telemática
Record 4, Main entry term, Spanish
- nombre genérico
1, record 4, Spanish, nombre%20gen%C3%A9rico
correct, masculine noun
Record 4, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 4, Synonyms, Spanish
Record 4, Textual support, Spanish
Record 5 - internal organization data 1998-08-12
Record 5, English
Record 5, Subject field(s)
- Chemistry
Record 5, Main entry term, English
- generic chemical name
1, record 5, English, generic%20chemical%20name
correct
Record 5, Abbreviations, English
Record 5, Synonyms, English
- generic name 2, record 5, English, generic%20name
correct
Record 5, Textual support, English
Record number: 5, Textual support number: 1 DEF
A designation or identification such as code name, code number, trade name, or brand name that is used to identify a chemical by other than its chemical name. 3, record 5, English, - generic%20chemical%20name
Record number: 5, Textual support number: 1 CONT
"Product identifier" means, in respect of a controlled product, the brand name, code name or code number specified by a supplier or the chemical name, common name, generic name or trade name. [Source: Hazardous Products Act. Controlled Products Regulations.] 4, record 5, English, - generic%20chemical%20name
Record 5, French
Record 5, Domaine(s)
- Chimie
Record 5, Main entry term, French
- appellation chimique générique
1, record 5, French, appellation%20chimique%20g%C3%A9n%C3%A9rique
feminine noun
Record 5, Abbreviations, French
Record 5, Synonyms, French
- appellation générique 2, record 5, French, appellation%20g%C3%A9n%C3%A9rique
feminine noun
- nom chimique générique 1, record 5, French, nom%20chimique%20g%C3%A9n%C3%A9rique
masculine noun
- nom générique 1, record 5, French, nom%20g%C3%A9n%C3%A9rique
masculine noun
Record 5, Textual support, French
Record number: 5, Textual support number: 1 CONT
identificateur du produit : Relativement à un produit contrôlé : la marque, la désignation ou le numéro de code spécifié par le fournisseur, ou l'appellation chimique, courante, commerciale ou générique. [Source : Loi sur les produits dangereux. Règlement sur les produits contrôlés.] 3, record 5, French, - appellation%20chimique%20g%C3%A9n%C3%A9rique
Record 5, Spanish
Record 5, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Química
Record 5, Main entry term, Spanish
- nombre genérico
1, record 5, Spanish, nombre%20gen%C3%A9rico
masculine noun
Record 5, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 5, Synonyms, Spanish
Record 5, Textual support, Spanish
Record 6 - internal organization data 1990-05-08
Record 6, English
Record 6, Subject field(s)
- Trademarks (Law)
- Toponymy
Record 6, Main entry term, English
- generic designation
1, record 6, English, generic%20designation
correct
Record 6, Abbreviations, English
Record 6, Synonyms, English
Record 6, French
Record 6, Domaine(s)
- Marques de commerce (Droit)
- Toponymie
Record 6, Main entry term, French
- nom générique
1, record 6, French, nom%20g%C3%A9n%C3%A9rique
correct, masculine noun
Record 6, Abbreviations, French
Record 6, Synonyms, French
Record 6, Textual support, French
Record 6, Spanish
Record 6, Textual support, Spanish
Record 7 - internal organization data 1986-01-25
Record 7, English
Record 7, Subject field(s)
- Language
Record 7, Main entry term, English
- class name 1, record 7, English, class%20name
Record 7, Abbreviations, English
Record 7, Synonyms, English
Record 7, French
Record 7, Domaine(s)
- Linguistique
Record 7, Main entry term, French
- nom générique 1, record 7, French, nom%20g%C3%A9n%C3%A9rique
Record 7, Abbreviations, French
Record 7, Synonyms, French
Record 7, Textual support, French
Record 7, Spanish
Record 7, Textual support, Spanish
Record 8 - internal organization data 1976-06-19
Record 8, English
Record 8, Subject field(s)
- General Vocabulary
Record 8, Main entry term, English
- nomen generalisimum 1, record 8, English, nomen%20generalisimum
Record 8, Abbreviations, English
Record 8, Synonyms, English
Record 8, French
Record 8, Domaine(s)
- Vocabulaire général
Record 8, Main entry term, French
- nom générique
1, record 8, French, nom%20g%C3%A9n%C3%A9rique
masculine noun
Record 8, Abbreviations, French
Record 8, Synonyms, French
Record 8, Textual support, French
Record 8, Spanish
Record 8, Textual support, Spanish
Copyright notice for the TERMIUM Plus® data bank
© Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2026
TERMIUM Plus®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
A product of the Translation Bureau
Features
GCtranslate (available on the Government of Canada network only)
Use this artificial intelligence prototype to translate Government of Canada content up to and including Protected B. Available to employees of selected departments and agencies only.
Writing tools
The Language Portal’s writing tools have a new look! Easy to consult, they give you access to a wealth of information that will help you write better in English and French.
Glossaries and vocabularies
Access Translation Bureau glossaries and vocabularies.
- Date Modified:


