What is the word when an object becomes synonymous with a brand?

Question

Most people use the word hoover instead of vacuum for instance even though hoover is a brand name. What is the word that you use to describe this?

Answer 1

Yes, like
Coke = cola
Xerox = copy

Generic [like aspirin] isn't necessarily wrong, but eponym is NOT the correct answer! An eponym is a thing named after a person, such as Colt, for Samual Colt's invention, or Franklin stove, after Ben Franklin, both inventing the item. Even mason jars, invented by John Mason...Diesel engine invented by Rudolph Diesel!
But you are talking about the forerunner of the item, like Xerox, being the first large maker of the copier, now all copiers are referred to as "xeroxes" right? Jeeps, Jacuzzi's, Hi-Liter, Band-Aids, Kleenex, all still registered trade marks but what have become "GENERIC DESCRIPTORS." otherwise known as "Household term." So Generic is the better answer of the two.

Answer 2

"THE colloquial description for a particular type of product or service as a result of widespread popular or cultural usage"-- is sometimes called a "GENERICIZED TRADEMARK"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genericized_trademark#Former_trademarks_now_used_generically

Here's a nice list of examples:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_generic_and_genericized_trademarks

Answer 3

It's called a "generic term."

Answer 4

Drugs Just Say NO

NIKI Just Do It

eponym

Answer 5

Very good question. It's an eponym.