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Definition of pacifier

pacifier

/ˈpæs.ə.faɪ.ɚ/
pac · i · fi · er
Plural:pacifiers
•
Adjective:pacific
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pacifier Lexical Profile

pacifier Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

North American A rubber or plastic artificial nipple given to an infant to suck on in order to soothe and calm them.

Example

"The crying baby finally settled down and fell asleep after her father gave her a pacifier."

2

A person or thing that restores peace, calms a situation, or appeases someone who is agitated.

Example

"The seasoned diplomat acted as a pacifier between the two fiercely opposing political factions."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for pacifier
Antonyms
View all antonyms for pacifier

Word Nuance & Usage

In North America, 'pacifier' is the standard term for a baby's soothing nipple, whereas British English speakers almost exclusively use the word 'dummy'.

• Rhymes for pacifier

• Nearby Words

pacific gopher snake
pacific halibut
pacific salmon
pacifier
pacifism
pacifist
pacifistic

Word Origin & Etymology

First recorded in the 1530s, derived from the verb 'pacify' (from Latin 'pacificus', meaning 'peacemaking') combined with the agent suffix '-er'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Pacifier. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/pacifier
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