<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-07-13</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000040888</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GENCORP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001212534</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WIDNALL SHEILA E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>HIGHWAY 50 &amp; AEROJET ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RANCHO CORDOVA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95742</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock   Unit</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-07-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>827.69</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>13.29</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>827.69</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3541.565</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F5">These Derivative Securities were incorrectly listed as being &quot;indirectly&quot; owned in prior filings.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F1">1 for 1; one phantom share equals one share of GenCorp common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Phantom Stock Units acquired under the Deferred Compensation Plan for Nonemployee Directors.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">These Derivative Securities are Phantom Stock Units in the GenCorp Deferred Compensation Plan for Nonemployee Directors.  The Phantom Stock Units are payable in cash upon a future date elected by the Director at the time of deferral, based upon the market value of GenCorp common shares at the time of payment.  therefore there is no Expiration Date for these Derivative Securities.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">These Derivative Securities are Phantom Stock Units in the GenCorp Deferred Compensation Plan for Nonemployee Directors.  The Phantom Stock Units are payable in cash upon a future date elected by the Director at the time of deferral, based upon the market value of GenCorp common shares at the time of payment.  Therefore there is no Date Exercisable for these Derivative Securities.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Mark A. Whitney as Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-07-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
