genesis

genesis — noun

1. the point or process at which something first begins to exist or develops into w

1.nounC1
Definition

the point or process at which something first begins to exist or develops into what it later becomes

Example

Heloísa traced the genesis of the company to her grandfather's small workshop in 1952.

trace the genesis of [entity] back to [starting point]

The documentary examines the genesis of hip-hop culture in the Bronx during the late 1970s.

genesis of [cultural phenomenon]

Common collocations
  • genesis of
  • trace the genesis
  • mark the genesis
  • had its genesis in
Synonyms
  • origin

    more general; points to the specific starting point or source rather than the developmental process

  • beginning

    more everyday and less formal; refers simply to the first stage rather than the process of emergence

  • birth

    metaphorical; often suggests a sudden or vivid emergence, e.g. the birth of a movement

  • creation

    stresses the act of bringing something new into existence, sometimes with a sense of design or purpose

Antonyms
  • end

    the opposite point in a timeline

  • conclusion

    the final stage, contrasting with the initial stage

Common Mistakes

We need to find the genesis of the problem first and then fix it.
We need to find the root cause of the problem first and then fix it.
'genesis' focuses on how something began, not just the cause in a troubleshooting context.

2. the opening volume of the biblical canon, recounting God's creation of the unive

2.nounB2
Definition

the opening volume of the biblical canon, recounting God's creation of the universe and the earliest stories of the first human families

Example

The Genesis account of creation describes light appearing before the sun and moon were made.

Genesis account of [biblical event]

Reverend Adebayo read the first three chapters of Genesis during the Sunday morning service.

Common collocations
  • Book of Genesis
  • Genesis account
  • chapter of Genesis

Usage Note

When referring to the biblical book, Genesis is always capitalised and used without an article (e.g. 'in Genesis', not 'in the Genesis'). The phrase 'the Book of Genesis' is also common.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Genesis emphasises the process by which something comes into being, often with a sense of gradual development or creative emergence. Origin points to the specific starting point or source from which something arises — where it began, not how it unfolded. Beginning is the most general and everyday word, simply referring to the first part or moment in time. Birth is metaphorical when used for non-living things, suggesting a vivid or dramatic arrival, as in the birth of a new political movement. Creation stresses the act of making something entirely new, often with an implication of skill, design, or divine power. For example: you study the genesis of an idea (its formation), locate the origin of a river (where it starts), enjoy the beginning of a film (its opening scenes), celebrate the birth of a nation (its founding), and admire the creation of a sculpture (the act of making it).

genesis ↗origin ↗beginning ↗birth ↗creation ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • the genesis of something
  • mark the genesis of
  • trace the genesis of
  • have its genesis in

Prepositions

Etymology

GreekLatinEnglish

Genesis comes from the ancient Greek word 'genesis' (γένεσις), meaning 'origin, creation, birth, generation'. It is related to the Greek verb 'gignesthai' (γίγνεσθαι), meaning 'to be born' or 'to come into being'. The word entered English through Latin in the early 1600s, first used as the title of the biblical book and later extended to any beginning or origin.