sic

1 of 3

adverb

ˈsik

ˈsēk

Synonyms of sic next

: intentionally so written

—used after a printed word or passage to indicate that it is intended exactly as printed or to indicate that it exactly reproduces an original

said he seed [sic] it all

sic

2 of 3

verb

ˈsik

variants or less commonly sick

sicced also sicked ˈsikt

; siccing also sicking

transitive verb

: chase, attack

—usually used as a command especially to a dog

sic 'em

: to incite or urge to an attack, pursuit, or harassment : set

sicced their lawyers on me

sic

3 of 3

ˈsik

chiefly Scottish variant of such

Did you know?

The adverb sic, usually enclosed in brackets, is a word editors use in the reproduction of someone else's speech or writing to indicate that an unexpected form exactly reproduces the original and is not a copier's mistake. Sic comes from Latin, in which it means "so" or "thus." Though it's a useful tool, some usage commentators feel it is bad manners to use a sic to needlessly call attention to someone's error or to deride the language of a less-educated person.

Examples of sic in a Sentence

Verb commanded the attack dogs to "sic 'em"

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Verb

Every staff of the park told us that beers (sic) were everywhere. —

Graham Averill, Outside Online, 22 Dec. 2024 Travelers sicked by the virus in Africa have tested positive for the version in Germany, India, Kenya, Sweden, Thailand, the United Kingdom, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. —

Jakob Rodgers, The Mercury News, 17 Nov. 2024 But all hell breaks loose when his disapproving parents sic their henchmen on the couple. —

Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2024 Just a few short months later, the trend continues with Smile 2, which sics the burgeoning horror franchise’s creepy demon on a new target: fictional pop star Skye Riley (Naomi Scott), who’s just trying to stage a comeback after a drunk driving accident without facing any supernatural interference. —

Abby Monteil, Them, 23 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for sic