What does pacifier mean?
A pacifier is most commonly a small rubber or silicone object that a baby sucks on for comfort and to satisfy a natural sucking instinct. In American English it is often called a “dummy,” while “soother” is also widely used, particularly in British English. The word can also refer more generally to a person or thing that calms angry or divided parties, such as a mediator or a soothing influence, though this figurative sense is less common. Pacifiers are valued by infants and their caregivers because sucking and the presence of a familiar object can help settle crying, soothe discomfort, and provide reassurance. The word also has an interesting linguistic history: it belongs to a family of English words connected with “peace” and making things calm, including “pacify,” “pacific,” and “pacifist.”
nounA pacifier is an object, usually made of rubber or silicone, that an infant sucks on for comfort and to satisfy a natural sucking instinct. More generally, it can mean a person or thing that calms, soothes, or reconciles others.
- An object, typically made of rubber or silicone, that an infant sucks on for comfort or to satisfy a sucking instinct.
- A person, group, or thing that calms anger, restores peace, or eases tension.
"She gave the baby a pacifier and gently rocked him until he fell asleep."
"The nurse offered the infant a clean pacifier when she began to fuss."
"The ambassador was known as a pacifier during tense negotiations."
The standard plural of the noun is “pacifiers,” used when referring to more than one soothing object or, figuratively, more than one calming person or influence.
"The parents packed several pacifiers in the travel bag for the long flight."
A pacifier is a tiny diplomat: it settles a crying baby without saying a word.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pacifier come from?
“Pacifier” was formed in English by adding the suffix “-er” to “pacify,” so it literally means something or someone that makes peace or calms. “Pacify” comes through Old French from Latin “pacificare,” derived from “pacificus,” meaning peaceful or peacemaking and ultimately from “pax,” Latin for peace. Related English words include “pacific,” “pacification,” and “pacifist.”
Related word forms
How pacifier is actually used
The word is standard in both British and American English, although “dummy” and “soother” are especially common in some varieties. The figurative meaning, meaning a person or thing that restores calm, is less frequent and can sound literary or formal.