implicit

UK /ɪmˈplɪs.ɪt/ US /ɪmˈplɪs.ɪt/ Syllables: im-plic-it

Pronunciation

Adjective C1 Advanced Formal

Suggested or understood without being stated directly.

Implicit describes something that is suggested or understood without being said directly. An implicit rule is one everyone follows although nobody wrote it down, and an implicit criticism is a hint instead of a complaint. The word also means complete and without doubt, as in implicit trust. The opposite is explicit, which means stated clearly.

"There was an implicit understanding that whoever arrived first would choose the seats."

Meanings

Suggested or understood without being said directly.
Complete and without any doubt.

Example sentences

"There was an implicit threat in his words."

Level C1, Meaning 1
"Both sides had an implicit agreement not to talk about it."

Level C1, Meaning 1
"She has implicit trust in her teacher."

Level C1, Meaning 2
"Respect is implicit in the way they speak to each other."

Level C1, Meaning 1

Synonyms and antonyms

Synonyms

implied unspoken

Antonyms

explicit

Look-alikes and common mistakes

explicit : Explicit means said openly and clearly. Implicit means understood but not said.

Word family and forms

implicitly implication implicate explicit

Word partners

Words and phrases that often go with "implicit".

implicit trust
an implicit rule
implicit criticism
implicit agreement
implicit in
implicit bias

Origin

Implicit comes through French from Latin implicitus, the past participle of implicare, which meant to fold in or to involve. What is implicit is folded inside, not laid out in the open.

Checked against: Wiktionary, the free dictionary, Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Dictionary.com.

How to remember it

Implicit is "folded in": imagine a message folded inside the sentence. Explicit is "unfolded out".

Test yourself

Which word fits the gap? "There was an _____ threat in his words."

Answer: implicit

In your own words, what does "implicit" mean?