Sic Meaning: Use Cases, Origin, Examples, Alternate Meanings, and More

Gaurav Rathore
Gaurav Rathore

Tech Writer

His write-ups blend creativity, personal experience, and tailored technical advice, meeting reader needs effectively.

5 min read

The constant appearance of new slang trends on the internet is making it very difficult for parents to catch up. Sic is one such slang that is taking over social media and chatting services.

No, I’m not talking about any sickness or someone being sick; rather, the viral slang sic, which means cool or impressive, that people use to compliment something or someone.

So, if you wish to learn more about this acronym, jump straight into the blog and discover what it means, its alternate meanings, where it came from, and whether it’s appropriate for kids to use. So, let’s get the ball rolling!

What does “sic” mean?@uxFeranmi on X

Quick Answer:

Sic or Sick means ‘cool’ or ‘impressive.’ It is often used to compliment something or describe something positively; thus, it is safe for your kids to use.

What Does Sic Mean?

Sic or Sick means ‘cool’ or ‘awesome.’ It is often used as an adjective to compliment someone or something. This phrase is a slight abbreviation of ‘sick’ that describes something awesome.

During the 1980s and ’90s, skaters and surfers popularized this acronym to describe cool or impressive (radical) things. Later, the slang definition received a positive response from the public due to its quirky meaning, which helped it gain stability. Skaters and surfers usually do exciting sports. They will look for practical tools to make them more convenient when they are doing sports. Custom Lanyards are a good choice. They usually need to carry some necessities, and customized lanyards can conveniently hang these items, allowing surfers to easily access them in the snow or water without worrying about losing or forgetting the items. 

Custom Lanyards can be designed according to the surfer’s personal preferences and style, including color, pattern, material, and length. In addition to making the lanyard more appealing, this customized design lets surfers express their individuality and taste. Some Custom Lanyards may contain safety features, such as emergency contact information tags or whistles. During surfing, if an emergency occurs, these features can help athletes get help quickly.

By the 2010s, with the rise of social media and online forums, Sic had become mainstream internet lingo among netizens.

Alternate Meanings of Sic

Sic is also a phrase people use to emphasize intentional misspellings or typos in the text. It is used within brackets (sic) and is often used right after an error to show that the typo wasn’t intended.

This meaning comes from the Latin adverb Sic, which means ‘so’ or ‘thus,’ and is often inserted after quotations to show the typo has been written as it was mentioned in the source. The first known use of this phrase was in 1845.

Due to the quotations and the presentation of errors, it is often used in professional settings or contexts, such as research papers, interviews, etc.

For example:

  • The ice cream flavour (sic) was not my style.
  • She almost called the cops on her neighbour (sic) last night.
  • There are so many stray dog (sic) across the street.
  • The authorities tweeted, “We will take the required actions to protect the peoples [sic].”

In some contexts, sic also means to incite an attack on someone. For example, if you don’t stop acting out, I will sic the stray dog on you.

How do Kids Use Sic in Conversations?

Sic or sick, is a positive adjective that kids use to describe something cool or impressive. This slang is often used in informal contexts and might sound rude in professional settings.

Here is a list of examples showing how kids use this phrase in conversation, so let’s take a look!

  • The song we heard at the event today was sick.
  • TBH, your new gaming PC is pretty sic.
  • Girl, your music and dance performance were sic last night.
  • Your new bike is sick. Which model is it?
  • The party last night was sic. I wish you were there too.
  • Did you check out Eminem’s new song? It’s sic.

Is it Safe for Kids to Use Sic in Conversations?

Sic is an internet slang used in daily conversations and, thus, is considered safe to use for kids. Hence, the parents can take a sigh of relief.

Although this slang is appropriate for kids, there is no guarantee that every internet lingo falls into the same category. There are many celebrated acronyms across the internet, like KYS or Dope, that might put your child in dangerous situations.

Thus, I recommend the parents ensure supervision of their child’s online activity at all times. You can also install a parental control app on your child’s device, but only when you have a tacit understanding with your child.

Apart from that, it would be better to maintain a healthy relationship with your child, so there is no need to use extreme spying and tracking, as you can always have an honest conversation when the issue arises.

Conclusion

Ultimately, using sic in conversations is pretty harmless, and there’s no need to get worried about it.

However, as a parent, you must ensure your child is not getting involved in any activities that might put them in extreme situations or, worse, risk their well-being.

FAQs

What does sic mean in texting?

Sic is used to show that the text is intentionally incorrect.

What is sic in slang?

Sic means ‘cool’ or ‘impressive’ in slang language.

Is using sic considered rude?

Using sic slang in professional contexts might come off as rude or unprofessional.

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