sic

¹ American  

[sik] / sɪk /

Or sick

verb (used with object)

sicced, sicked, siccing, sicking

1. to attack (used especially in commanding a dog).

   Sic 'em!

2. to incite to attack (usually followed byon ).

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sic ² American  

[sik] / sɪk /

adjective

Chiefly Scot.

1. such.

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sic ³ American  

[seek, sik] / sik, sɪk /

adverb

Latin.

1. so; thus: usually written parenthetically to denote that a word, phrase, passage, etc., that may appear strange or incorrect has been written intentionally or has been quoted verbatim.

   He signed his name as e. e. cummings (sic).

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SIC ⁴ American  

U.S. Government.

1. Standard Industrial Classification: a system used by the federal government to classify business activities for analytical and reporting purposes.

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Sic. ⁵ American  

abbreviation

1. Sicilian.

2. Sicily.

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sic ¹ British  

/ sɪk /

verb

1. to turn on or attack: used only in commands, as to a dog

2. to urge (a dog) to attack

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sic ² British  

/ sɪk /

adverb

1. so or thus: inserted in brackets in a written or printed text to indicate that an odd or questionable reading is what was actually written or printed

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sic ³ British  

/ sɪk /

determiner

1. a Scot word for such

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sic Cultural  

1. A Latin word for “thus,” used to indicate that an apparent error is part of quoted material and not an editorial mistake: “The learned geographer asserts that ‘the capital of the United States is Washingtown [sic].’”

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Etymology

Origin of sic¹

First recorded in 1835–45; variant of seek

Origin of sic²

First recorded in 1400–50; Middle English (north and Scots); see such

Origin of sic³

First recorded in 1885–90; from Latin sīc

Explanation

When urging your dog to chase a thief, you might say, "Sic 'em, Fluffy!" When writing something that might look wrong, you add "[sic]" to indicate you know it's wrong. When you’re writing a paper and you want to quote a source, but the source contains a misspelling or some other error, you use the word [sic] after the quote so that whoever reads your paper knows the mistake is in the original source, rather than in your own sloppy typing. It’s kind of a way of saying, “Yeah, I know this is wrong, but let’s just be clear — I didn't do it!”

Example Sentences

The sic of it all is worth a little attention.

From Slate • Nov. 14, 2025

Also, if you don’t give Alan Ruck a nomination for his bittersweet turn as billionaire bloviator Connor Roy, I’m gonna sic the Conheads on you.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 30, 2023

Max doesn't sic goblins on his little sister but he does drag her along on his quest to impress Allison and banish the risen Sanderson sisters.

From Salon • Sep. 24, 2022

I’ll sic Houston on opponents until opponents seem to say, Just get me out of here and let me go home.

From Washington Post • Mar. 28, 2022

“Ye must forget sic things. Ye maun summon up your powers to what is difficult. Will ye do that?”

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

Related Words

• arouse
• cause
• convince
• draw
• elicit
• help
• indicate
• induce
• inspire
• motivate
• persuade
• propel
• provoke
• spur
• stimulate
• suggest
• urge