The word "edifice" contains the phoneme /s/ at the end, which is often pronounced like /z/ when it comes between two vowel sounds. This can lead to confusion when spelling the word, as "edifis" could be seen as a possible alternative spelling. However, the correct spelling is "edifice" with a /s/ at the end, pronounced like /s/ in "say". The word refers to a large, impressive building, often used in a metaphorical sense to represent an institution or system.