implicationnoun
uk/ˌɪm.plɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/us/ˌɪm.pləˈkeɪ.ʃən/C2 [ C or U ] an occasion when you seem to suggest something without saying it directly:
[ + that ] From what she said, the implication was that they were splitting up.
She accused the party and, by implication, its leader too.
C1 [ C usually plural ] the effect that an action or decision will have on something else in the future:
The company is cutting back its spending and I wonder what the implications will be for our department.
What are the implications of the new law?
C2 [ U ] an occasion when you suggest or show that someone is involved in a crime:
The case depended upon his implication of his co-workers in the fraud.
More examples
- Because of security implications the officers were tried in secret.
- What are the implications of his report?
- The implication of her claim is that the Minister lied to Parliament.
- The incident has serious security implications.
- It's not yet clear what the implications of the new legislation will be for small businesses.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Suggestions & proposals
- about
- float
- get at sth
- grab
- hint
- how about...? idiom
- how does... grab you? idiom
- how/what about...? idiom
- it wouldn't hurt you to do sth idiom
- might
- offer
- on the table idiom
- point sb towards/in the direction of sth idiom
- posit
- postulate
- proposal
- propose
- put
- put ideas into sb's head idiom
- table
See more results »
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Outcomes and consequences
Blaming & accusing