: 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
variants
or less commonly sick
sicced also sicked
ˈsikt 
; siccing also sicking
; siccing also sicking
2
: to incite or urge to an attack, pursuit, or harassment : set
sicced their lawyers on me
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
Matt Robison, Newsweek, 25 Feb. 2025
Loading your audio article A Georgia man who blew up a woman’s home and planned to sic a python on her child will spend 20 years in federal prison.
—Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 24 Feb. 2025
This will effect [sic] people differently, so reach out, and offer to help.
—EW.com, 10 Jan. 2025
My heartaches [sic] for those still in harm’s way or mourning greater losses.
—Janhvi Bhojwani, NBC News, 10 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sic
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
The cruise was due to visit the German city of Hamburg on day three of the trip, Rotterdam in the Netherlands on days five and sic, and Zeebrugge in Belgium on day seven, before returning to Southampton on day eight (Saturday), according to an itinerary on travel website Iglu Cruise.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 25 Feb. 2025
Loading your audio article A Georgia man who blew up a woman’s home and planned to sic a python on her child will spend 20 years in federal prison.
—Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 24 Feb. 2025
This will effect [sic] people differently, so reach out, and offer to help.
—EW.com, 10 Jan. 2025
My heartaches [sic] for those still in harm’s way or mourning greater losses.
—Janhvi Bhojwani, NBC News, 10 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sic
Articles Related to sic
Cite this Entry
“Sic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sic. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share