-istic

American  

1. a suffix of adjectives (and in the plural, of nouns from adjectives) formed from nouns ending in -ist and having reference to such nouns, or to associated nouns ending in -ism (deistic; euphuistic; puristic ). In nouns, it usually has a plural form (linguistics ).

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-istic British  

suffix

1. equivalent to a combination of -ist and -ic but in some words having a less specific or literal application and sometimes a mildly pejorative force, as compared with corresponding adjectives ending in -ist

   communistic

   impressionistic

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Etymology

Origin of -istic

< Latin -isticus < Greek -istikos; in some words, replacing -istique < French < Latin, as above