“Kleenex” is probably the most famous example of a “genericized trademark”—a product so popular that people use the brand-name to identify it. You’ve probably heard someone ask for a “Kleenex” more often than they ask for a “tissue.”
Here are some other name brands that have gone generic…and what, technically speaking, you should be calling them.
Bubble Wrap: Inflated cushioning
Dumpster: Front-loader waste container
Chapstick: Lip balm
Lava Lamp: Liquid motion lamp
Frisbee: Flying disc
Hacky Sack: Footbag
Jet Ski: Personal watercraft
Jacuzzi: Whirlpool bath
AstroTurf: Artificial turf
JumboTron: Large-screen television
Onesie: Infant bodysuit
Superglue: Cyanoacrylate adhesive
Rollerblades: Inline skates
Tivo: Digital video recorder
Speedos: Swim briefs
Styrofoam: Extruded polystyrene foam
Name that Product