Pacific means peaceful and calm, without conflict or aggression. A pacific person prefers gentle conversation over arguments and looks for ways to resolve disagreements without fighting. When a teacher uses a pacific approach with upset students, she speaks calmly and helps them work through their problems rather than yelling or making threats.

You'll often see pacific describing attitudes or methods that avoid violence: a pacific protest uses peaceful demonstration instead of force, and a pacific solution to a problem satisfies everyone without anyone getting hurt.

The Pacific Ocean got its name from the explorer Ferdinand Magellan, who found its waters remarkably calm and peaceful compared to the stormy Atlantic waters he'd crossed before. While that massive ocean certainly has its share of storms and rough seas, the name stuck.

Don't confuse pacific with specific, which means particular or exact. They sound similar but mean completely different things. When you're being pacific, you're keeping things peaceful. When you're being specific, you're giving clear, precise details.