explicit

adjective

ex·plic·it ik-ˈspli-sət How to pronounce explicit (audio)

: fully revealed or expressed without vagueness, implication, or ambiguity : leaving no question as to meaning or intent

explicit instructions

compare implicit sense 1a

: open in the depiction of nudity or sexuality

explicit books and films

: fully developed or formulated

an explicit plan

an explicit notion of our objective

: unambiguous in expression

was very explicit on how we are to behave

of a mathematical function : defined by an expression containing only independent variables compare implicit sense 3b

explicitness noun

Example Sentences

From closer restrictions on sexually explicit writing came the success, in the mid-19th century, of the novelist George Thompson, who combined graphically violent scenes set in urban dystopias with coy peekaboo references to sex.

Susan Dominus, New York Times Book Review, 5 Apr. 2009 Therefore, the Administration's policy was the explicit, if unpublicized, one that it was necessary to allow Saddam Hussein to put down the rebellions.

Elizabeth Drew, New Yorker, 6 May 1991 They were given explicit instructions. Changes to the property can't be done without their explicit consent. The law is very explicit about how these measures should be enacted. a song with explicit lyrics The movie contains scenes of explicit violence. See More

Recent Examples on the Web But that may be a good thing due to the potential that users might abuse the technology and make explicit or hateful images, the Verge notes.

Grady Mcgregor, Fortune, 16 Aug. 2022 What that means is an explicit and deliberate effort to try to build U.S. economic capacity and U.S. economic strength in critical sectors of our economy.

Rhett Buttle, Forbes, 25 July 2022 Each of these films, while not ignoring struggle, is ultimately empowering, whether that is explicit or implied.

Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 9 June 2022 Retired officers who spoke to The Associated Press described examples of explicit and implicit bias.

Nomaan Merchant, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 May 2022 That visit heralded a far more explicit and hawkish US war aim in Ukraine -- namely the weakening of Russian military power so that Putin lacks the future capacity to threaten American allies in Europe.

Stephen Collinson, CNN, 2 May 2022 Court records show six deans, including the dean of the college of education, Abram VanderMeer, conducted an explicit and bizarre interrogation.

Washington Post, 21 Apr. 2022 During another clash with Trump’s more militant advisers, when Trump was not present, Milley was even more explicit.

Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2022 Some, like those in the Never Trump movement, have been explicit in their efforts to return to traditional conservatism since 2016.

Arit John, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2022 See More

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French explicite, borrowed from Medieval Latin explicitus, going back to Latin, "free from difficulties," variant past participle of explicāre "to free from folds or creases, unroll, disentangle, spread out, set out in words, give an account of" — more at explicate

Note: Verbs built on the stem -plicā- have the variants -plicuī, -plicitus alongside a regular perfect and past participle -plicāvī, -plicātus. Oxford Latin Dictionary notes that explicāre the variants explicuī, explicitus come later, replacing explicāvī, explicātus after the time of Cicero. See also exploit entry 1.

First Known Use

1549, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

explicit

adjective

as in specific

so clearly expressed as to leave no doubt about the meaning explicit instructions about what to do in an emergency

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

specific
express
unambiguous
definite
definitive
unequivocal
unmistakable
comprehensive
literal
clear
clear-cut
complete
specified
precise
full
simple
comprehensible
univocal
stated
categorical
exhaustive
avowed
direct
distinct
straightforward
understandable
certain
declared
categoric
intelligible
lucid
exact
well-defined
plain
sure

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

implicit
implied
inferred
ambiguous
obscure
unclear
dark
cryptic
enigmatic
vague
incorrect
inaccurate
imprecise
circuitous
inexact
enigmatical
indefinite
equivocal
incomprehensible
unintelligible
inexplicit
unspecific

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of explicit are definite, express, and specific. While all these words mean "perfectly clear in meaning," explicit implies such verbal plainness and distinctness that there is no need for inference and no room for difficulty in understanding.

explicit instructions

While in some cases nearly identical to explicit, definite stresses precise, clear statement or arrangement that leaves no doubt or indecision.

the law is definite in such cases

The meanings of express and explicit largely overlap; however, express implies both explicitness and direct and positive utterance.

her express wishes

The words specific and explicit are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, specific applies to what is precisely and fully treated in detail or particular.

two specific criticisms

单词	explicit
释义	explicit adjective ex·plic·it ik-ˈspli-sət 1 a : fully revealed or expressed without vagueness, implication, or ambiguity : leaving no question as to meaning or intent explicit instructions compare implicit sense 1a b : open in the depiction of nudity or sexuality explicit books and films 2 : fully developed or formulated an explicit plan an explicit notion of our objective 3 : unambiguous in expression was very explicit on how we are to behave 4 of a mathematical function : defined by an expression containing only independent variables compare implicit sense 3b explicitness noun Synonyms clear-cut definite definitive express specific unambiguous unequivocal univocal See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences From closer restrictions on sexually explicit writing came the success, in the mid-19th century, of the novelist George Thompson, who combined graphically violent scenes set in urban dystopias with coy peekaboo references to sex. Susan Dominus, New York Times Book Review, 5 Apr. 2009 Therefore, the Administration's policy was the explicit, if unpublicized, one that it was necessary to allow Saddam Hussein to put down the rebellions. Elizabeth Drew, New Yorker, 6 May 1991 They were given explicit instructions. Changes to the property can't be done without their explicit consent. The law is very explicit about how these measures should be enacted. a song with explicit lyrics The movie contains scenes of explicit violence. See More Recent Examples on the Web But that may be a good thing due to the potential that users might abuse the technology and make explicit or hateful images, the Verge notes. Grady Mcgregor, Fortune, 16 Aug. 2022 What that means is an explicit and deliberate effort to try to build U.S. economic capacity and U.S. economic strength in critical sectors of our economy. Rhett Buttle, Forbes, 25 July 2022 Each of these films, while not ignoring struggle, is ultimately empowering, whether that is explicit or implied. Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 9 June 2022 Retired officers who spoke to The Associated Press described examples of explicit and implicit bias. Nomaan Merchant, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 May 2022 That visit heralded a far more explicit and hawkish US war aim in Ukraine -- namely the weakening of Russian military power so that Putin lacks the future capacity to threaten American allies in Europe. Stephen Collinson, CNN, 2 May 2022 Court records show six deans, including the dean of the college of education, Abram VanderMeer, conducted an explicit and bizarre interrogation. Washington Post, 21 Apr. 2022 During another clash with Trump’s more militant advisers, when Trump was not present, Milley was even more explicit. Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2022 Some, like those in the Never Trump movement, have been explicit in their efforts to return to traditional conservatism since 2016. Arit John, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2022 See More Word History Etymology borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French explicite, borrowed from Medieval Latin explicitus, going back to Latin, "free from difficulties," variant past participle of explicāre "to free from folds or creases, unroll, disentangle, spread out, set out in words, give an account of" — more at explicate Note: Verbs built on the stem -plicā- have the variants -plicuī, -plicitus alongside a regular perfect and past participle -plicāvī, -plicātus. Oxford Latin Dictionary notes that explicāre the variants explicuī, explicitus come later, replacing explicāvī, explicātus after the time of Cicero. See also exploit entry 1. First Known Use 1549, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Kids Definition explicit adjective ex·plic·it ik-ˈspli-sət : so clear in statement that there is no doubt about the meaning explicit instructions explicit adjective as in specific so clearly expressed as to leave no doubt about the meaning explicit instructions about what to do in an emergency Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance specific express unambiguous definite definitive unequivocal unmistakable comprehensive literal clear clear-cut complete specified precise full simple comprehensible univocal stated categorical exhaustive avowed direct distinct straightforward understandable certain declared categoric intelligible lucid exact well-defined plain sure Antonyms & Near Antonyms implicit implied inferred ambiguous obscure unclear dark cryptic enigmatic vague incorrect inaccurate imprecise circuitous inexact enigmatical indefinite equivocal incomprehensible unintelligible inexplicit unspecific See More Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of explicit are definite, express, and specific. While all these words mean "perfectly clear in meaning," explicit implies such verbal plainness and distinctness that there is no need for inference and no room for difficulty in understanding. explicit instructions While in some cases nearly identical to explicit, definite stresses precise, clear statement or arrangement that leaves no doubt or indecision. the law is definite in such cases The meanings of express and explicit largely overlap; however, express implies both explicitness and direct and positive utterance. her express wishes The words specific and explicit are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, specific applies to what is precisely and fully treated in detail or particular. two specific criticisms
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explicit

adjective

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

adjective

adjective

Synonym Chooser