pacific

[ puh-sif-ik ]

adjective

1. tending to make or preserve peace; conciliatory:

   pacific overtures.

   Synonyms: dovish

2. not warlike; peaceable; mild:

   a pacific disposition.

   Synonyms: humane, gentle

   Antonyms: antagonistic, quarrelsome, argumentative

3. at peace; peaceful:

   a pacific era in history.

   Synonyms: quiet

4. calm; tranquil:

   The Wabash is a pacific river.

5. Pacific.
   1. of or relating to the Pacific Ocean.
   2. of or relating to the region bordering on the Pacific Ocean:

      the Pacific states.

noun

1. the Pacific. Pacific Ocean.
2. Pacific. a steam locomotive having a four-wheeled front truck, six driving wheels, and a two-wheeled rear truck.

pacific

¹

/ pəˈsɪfɪk /

adjective

1. tending or conducive to peace; conciliatory
2. not aggressive; opposed to the use of force
3. free from conflict; peaceful

Pacific

²

/ pəˈsɪfɪk /

noun

1. See Pacific Ocean
   the Pacific
   the Pacific short for Pacific Ocean

adjective

1. of or relating to the Pacific Ocean or its islands

Derived Forms

• paˈcifically, adverb

Other Words From

• nonpa·cific adjective
• unpa·cific adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pacific¹

First recorded in 1540–50; from Middle French pacifique, from Latin pācificus, literally, “peacemaking,” equivalent to pāci- (combining form of pāx “peace”) + -ficus adjective suffix; peace, -fic

Word History and Origins

Origin of pacific¹

C16: from Old French pacifique, from Latin pācificus, from pāx peace + facere to make

Example Sentences

The End of Gangs By Sam Quinones, Pacific-Standard Los Angeles gave America the modern street gang.

From The Daily Beast

Still, at least Macklemore sounds like a white guy from the Pacific Northwest.

From The Daily Beast

Owing to its popularity as a pet, it has spread across the Pacific to China.

From The Daily Beast

He was a young Army Air Force lieutenant whose plane crashed in the Pacific in May 1943.

From The Daily Beast

To break her self-destructive cycle and heal, she decides to hike 1,100 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail solo.

From The Daily Beast

That his friend had withdrawn, was a pledge of his pacific wishes; and, with a lightened countenance, Louis rose from his knee.

From Project Gutenberg

The shrieking trade-winds and the dense white fogs were hibernating somewhere out in the Pacific.

From Project Gutenberg

It looked so calm and peaceful that he said, "I will call it 'Pacific,' for I have never seen the like before."

From Project Gutenberg

At this spot, according to our works on geography, the Atlantic Ocean changes its name and assumes that of the Pacific.

From Project Gutenberg

That extraordinary but unfortunate man was the first European whose eyes rested on the broad Pacific.

From Project Gutenberg