tending to make or preserve peace; conciliatory.
pacific overtures.
a pacific disposition.
at peace; peaceful.
a pacific era in history.
The Wabash is a pacific river.
Pacific,
of or relating to the Pacific Ocean.
of or relating to the region bordering on the Pacific Ocean.
the Pacific states.
the Pacific. Pacific Ocean.
Pacific, a steam locomotive having a four-wheeled front truck, six driving wheels, and a two-wheeled rear truck.
tending or conducive to peace; conciliatory
not aggressive; opposed to the use of force
free from conflict; peaceful
What does pacific mean? The adjective pacific means peaceful, calm, tranquil, or nonviolent. When capitalized, Pacific is best known as the name of the Pacific Ocean, often simply called the Pacific. The adjective pacific is not used nearly as often as some of its common synonyms, such as peaceful. Example: While their neighbors were known as warriors, the tribe was pacific, specializing in trade.
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; see origin at peace, -fic
The word pacific refers to people, actions, and ideas that are peaceful. Pacific actions promote and create peace. A pacifist is a person who opposes all wars, and that word can help you remember that pacific things are also peaceful. All pacific things are done in a peaceful way or help the cause of peace. Protesting a war is pacific. Signing a peace treaty is pacific. The philosophy of being pacific is called pacifism. Don't confuse pacific with a small "p" with Pacific with a big "P" — as in the Pacific Ocean.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The contents of a secretive security pact between China and the Solomon Islands will remain undisclosed due to legal restrictions, the Pacific nation's new government told AFP on Thursday.
From Barron's • Jun. 11, 2026
But out of the thousands of homes destroyed in Pacific Palisades and Altadena, a Politico report in April found that 15 months after the blazes, just 34 had been rebuilt.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026
And inspiration is easy to find in this piece of North America’s so-called “Galapagos,” where the Pacific sparkles in the background of any burn scar.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026
In the past, live-fire drills were often conducted at a remote launch test site off Taiwan’s southeastern coast, facing the Pacific Ocean.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026
They went back to Mexico City, where their new friends told them to go to Manzanillo, a port town situated on the Pacific Ocean with beautiful beaches.
From Nazi Saboteurs by Samantha Seiple
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
