French word

nocif

Pronunciation

IPA/nosif/

Meaning

  • adjectiveharmful

Example

Ces médicaments sont nocifs en grande quantité.

These medications are harmful in large quantities.

Illustration for nocif (harmful)

More examples

La fumée de cigarette est nocive pour les enfants.

Cigarette smoke is harmful to children.

Core concept

A harmful influence that throws a body, habitat, or person's balance out of line.

Common phrases

  • air nocif

    harmful air

  • fumée nocive

    harmful smoke

  • substance nocive

    harmful substance

Similar words

dangereux: Posing a risk of accidents or bodily injury.
toxique: Having poisonous effects on organisms even in small doses.
nuisible: Able to cause damage to things or living beings.
malsain: Unhealthy and liable to bring discomfort or disease.

Definition in French

Qui nuit au bien-être ou à l'équilibre d'un organisme, d'un milieu ou d'une personne.

Word origin

French nocif comes from Latin nocivus, formed from nocere, "to harm", and reached French through Old French.

Usage tips

  • As an adjective, nocif agrees with the noun: nocive is feminine, and nocifs and nocives are plural forms.

Opposites

Word lists with this word