Meanings
suffix-ific (adjective-forming suffix, comparative more -ific, superlative most -ific)
comparative more -ific · superlative most -ific
- Creating or causing something.
horror + -ific → horrific (“causing horror”)
- informalVery; extremely; forming adjectives from nouns.
Origin
- Latin-ficus
- Latin-ficus
- English-ific
Learned borrowing from Latin -(i)ficus. By surface analysis, -ify + -ic.
More words from Latin
Full word history & related roots →Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with -ific
specificpacificscientificterrificprolifichorrificinterspecifichieroglyphichonorificcalorifictranspacificunspecificconspecificsoporificpseudoscientificsalvificcolorificcalcificacidificalgificallospecificanaglyphicanticalcificantiprolific
All rhymes →Cite this entry
APA
-ific. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-ific
MLA
“-ific.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-ific. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “-ific,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-ific.
Source: -ific on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.