genre
/ˈʒɒn.rə/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A category of art, music, film, writing, or other works that shares a style or theme. People use it to group works into types.
- Horror is my favourite genre.
- This film belongs to the action genre.
- She writes in the fantasy genre.
Adinary Nuance
Genre is more specific than type or kind. It is used for art, music, film, books, and sometimes games, not for ordinary objects. Writers choose genre when they want a formal, subject-based label.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- thể loại
- Spanish
- género
- Chinese
- 体裁
- Japanese
- ジャンル
- Korean
- 장르
Etymology
From French genre, meaning "kind" or "type". It entered English in the 18th century, first in art and literature, then in wider use.
Common phrases
music genrefilm genreliterary genregenre fiction
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is genre used for books and films only?
- No. It is also common for music, games, and other creative work.
- What is the difference between genre and type?
- Genre is used mainly for creative works. Type is more general.
- Is genre a formal word?
- Yes, it is common in academic, media, and review writing.
- Can I say 'my favourite genre is' in conversation?
- Yes. It sounds natural and correct.