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• pacific
  pacific

  adjective

  tending to make or preserve peace; conciliatory.
• Pacific
  Pacific

  noun

  short for Pacific Ocean

pacific

American  

[puh-sif-ik] / pəˈsɪf ɪk /

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.

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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 British  

/ pəˈsɪfɪk /

adjective

1. tending or conducive to peace; conciliatory

2. not aggressive; opposed to the use of force

3. free from conflict; peaceful

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Pacific ² British  

/ pəˈsɪfɪk /

noun

1. short for Pacific Ocean

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adjective

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

Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

• nonpacific
  adjective
• unpacific
  adjective
• pacifically
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of pacific

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

Explanation

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pacific Pacific

Transborder continued to drag from geopolitical issues, while pacific continued to see the impact of yield normalization following the prior year’s industry capacity growth.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2025

Records show that medals were distributed to locals in more than 30 locations that Captain Cook and his crews visited across the pacific, including Tahiti, Easter Island and New Zealand.

From BBC ● Nov. 26, 2024

During his most recent stint, Peters launched a "Pacific Reset" to woo neighbouring pacific countries and significantly boosted the country's foreign aid budget.

From Reuters ● Nov. 24, 2023

The beginning of wisdom is the quest to master one's fear, the urge to turn away from fear-driven hatreds, to find better, more pacific, more loving ways.

From Salon ● Oct. 15, 2023

And if the approacher happened to have evil in his heart, that great voice would give him pause if he did not know Charley’s basically pacific and diplomatic nature.

From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck

Scientists discovered that a large flow of molten material deep beneath the Pacific Ocean changed direction for reasons that remain unclear.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 7, 2026

The plan would mark the first new oil and gas leases in federal waters of the Pacific Ocean in more than four decades.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026

Last week, Japan announced plans to deploy an Aegis destroyer in the Pacific.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile over the Sea of Japan on Thursday, Seoul's military said, with the launch coming after Pyongyang lambasted Japan's military build-up in the Pacific.

From Barron's ● Aug. 6, 2026

Over time, the movement of the Pacific Plate pulls the North American Plate downward, like the bucket of a catapult that is being readied to fire.

From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland