Genre
/ˈʒɑːnrə/
Definitions
A category of artistic work (literature, music, film, etc.) that shares similar characteristics.
/ˈʒɑːnrə/
A category of artistic composition, as in music or literature, characterized by similarities in form, style, or subject matter.
This book falls into the fantasy genre.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're at a library. The 'genre' is like the section where all the books of a similar kind are kept. So, all the mystery books go in the mystery 'genre,' and all the fantasy books go in the fantasy 'genre.'
👶 For kids: A 'genre' is like a club for things that are alike. Like a club for superhero stories or a club for songs that make you dance!
More Examples
The artist experiments with various genres of music.
The film festival showcased films across several genres.
How It's Used
"The novel is a classic example of the science fiction genre."
"She enjoys listening to various music genres, including rock, pop, and jazz."
"Horror films are a popular genre among moviegoers."
Idioms & expressions
genre-bending
Combining elements from different genres.
"The album is a genre-bending mix of electronic and orchestral music."
From French *genre*, meaning 'kind' or 'type', ultimately from Latin *genus* ('race', 'stock', 'kind').
The term 'genre' has been used in literary and artistic contexts since the 18th century, originally borrowed from French.
Memory tip
Think of it as a 'kind' or 'type' that groups similar art forms.