pacifist

1 of 2

noun

pac·​i·​fist ˈpa-sə-fist 

plural pacifists

: an adherent to pacifism : someone who opposes war or violence as a means of settling disputes

… the attack inflamed the American public and turned isolationists and pacifists into gung-ho patriots hot for revenge.

—Evan Thomas

Not every woman will or should be a pacifist; and to advance in the Senate and into the White House, women will have to convince the voters that they're prepared to go to war.

—Wendy Kaminer

pacifist

2 of 2

adjective

variants or pacifistic

ˌpa-sə-ˈfi-stik 

1

: of, relating to, or characteristic of pacifism or pacifists

distributing pacifist literature

2

: strongly and actively opposed to conflict and especially war

pacifist beliefs

pacifistically

ˌpa-sə-ˈfi-sti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Synonyms

Noun

• dove
• peacenik

Adjective

• dovish
• pacific
• peaceable
• peaceful

Examples of pacifist in a Sentence

Noun

a committed pacifist, Gandhi succeeded in bringing about Indian independence using only nonviolence

Adjective

the newspaper's editorial board has clearly staked out a pacifist position on the current conflict

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The grieving mother began using her platform as one of Germany’s most celebrated artists, noted for her masterful drawing and printmaking, to become one of its most outspoken pacifists. —airmail.news, 30 Mar. 2024

When Syrians took to the streets in the peaceful protests of the Arab Spring, one of them was Ahmad al-Khaldi, a secular pacifist who lived in Deir al-Zour, in the eastern part of the country. —Alia Malek, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2025

Adjective

Ostensibly, the new laws seek to amend Japan’s pacifist constitution (imposed by American victors 70 years ago) so that Japan’s defense and security policy can meet the challenges of this century. —Mio Yamada, Foreign Affairs, 20 Jan. 2016

Japan has a pacifist post-war constitution, which limits its military capacity to ostensibly defensive measures. —Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune Asia, 27 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1898, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1908, in the meaning defined at sense 1