1. 1. Of or relating to genetics or genes.
   2. Affecting or determined by genes: genetic diseases.
2. Of, relating to, or influenced by the origin or development of something.
3. Linguistics. Of or relating to the relationship between or among languages that are descendants of the same protolanguage.

[From Greek genetikos, genitive, from genesis, origin. See genesis.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.