a suffix of adjectives (and in the plural, of nouns from adjectives) formed from nouns ending in -ist and having reference to such nouns, or to associated nouns in -ism (deistic; euphuistic; puristic). In nouns, it usually has a plural form (linguistics).
< Latin-isticus < Greek-istikos; in some words, replacing -istique < French < Latin, as above
British Dictionary definitions for -istic
-istic
suffix
1.
equivalent to a combination of -ist and -ic but in some words having a less specific or literal application and sometimes a mildly pejorative force, as compared with corresponding adjectives ending in -ist: communistic, impressionistic
Word Origin
from Latin -isticus, from Greek istikos
Word Origin and History for -istic
adjectival suffix, from Latin -isticus (often via French -istique), from Greek -istikos, which is adjective suffix -ikos (see -ic) added to noun suffix -istes (see -ist).