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• tic
  tic

  noun
• -tic
  -tic

  a suffix, equivalent in meaning to -ic, occurring in adjectives of Greek origin (analytic ), used especially in the formation of adjectives from nouns with stems in -sis: hematotic; neurotic.

tic

¹ American  

[tik] / tɪk /

noun

tics plural

1. Pathology.

   1. a sudden, spasmodic, painless, involuntary muscular contraction, as of the face.

   2. tic douloureux.

2. a persistent or recurrent behavioral trait; personal quirk.

   her distinctive verbal tics.

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-tic ² American  

1. a suffix, equivalent in meaning to -ic, occurring in adjectives of Greek origin (analytic ), used especially in the formation of adjectives from nouns with stems in -sis: hematotic; neurotic.

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tic British  

/ tɪk /

noun

1. spasmodic twitching of a particular group of muscles

2. See tic douloureux

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• tics
  plural

Etymology

Origin of tic¹

First recorded in 1790–1800; from French (of expressive origin)

Origin of -tic²

< Greek -tikos, extracted from adjectives derived with -ikos -ic from agent nouns ending in -tēs; cf. hieratic

Explanation

When a muscle moves or spasms suddenly, it's a tic. You can also think of a tic as a habitual movement. If you have an urge to blink your eyes, move your head in a certain way, or clear your throat repeatedly, each of those movements can be described as tics. Some people make unintentional vocal sounds that experts call phonic tics. Some tics are completely involuntary, while others are more of a response to a strong urge. More generally, you can use this word for a word you use habitually when you speak or write. If you participate in a formal debate, you'll want to eliminate your tic of saying "um" at the beginning of sentences.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tic tics

Actors in the production lip-sync the actual audio, reproducing every hesitation, interruption and verbal tic.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026

He has a facial tic that he blames on his concussions and a limp stemming from back problems.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026

This so-called tic could seep into wider model training if rewarded in one instance and reinforced elsewhere.

From BBC ● Apr. 30, 2026

Not because of anything dramatic, not because of some special flaw within you, but because you are guilty of the most common tic in how humans navigate existence—turning others into objects.

From Slate ● Mar. 16, 2026

Too stupid to know the difference between a wink and a tic until Father explained.

From "In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson" by Bette Bao Lord

Is it difficult to take what seems, on the page, maybe like tics or weird habits and make them feel natural?

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 9, 2026

Everyone John meets in “I Swear” is either aghast by his tics or accepts them without struggle.

From Salon ● Apr. 26, 2026

His tics are not naughty mischief but an uncontrollable action.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 24, 2026

Here is Claude’s parody of ChatGPT answering the question of its own writing tics.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 5, 2026

“I still don’t completely understand why you can’t hold your tics in. I know you said it hurts, but why?”

From "Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus" by Dusti Bowling

Related Words

• twitch