Synonyms

explicitly

American

[ik-splis-it-lee] / ɪkˈsplɪs ɪt li /

adverb

in a way that is clearly expressed, demonstrated, or formulated.

There are a couple of important points that I wish had been made more clearly and explicitly.
We should also explicitly advocate for ourselves when it comes to promotions or raises.
in a way that is direct or precise; specifically.

Women and underrepresented minorities are explicitly invited to apply.
in a graphic or detailed way; not leaving anything to the imagination.

The art to be displayed cannot include explicitly sexual scenes, nudity, or salacious or revealing imagery.

Other Word Forms

overexplicitly adverb
quasi-explicitly adverb
superexplicitly adverb
unexplicitly adverb

Etymology

Origin of explicitly

explicit ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He hasn’t explicitly given an order to pull the U.S. out of the alliance that has stood for more than three-quarters of a century, the officials said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

When ratifying the amendment in 1868, however, Congress explicitly recognized that it would also apply to the American-born offspring of immigrants.

From Slate • Apr. 1, 2026

Not mentioned in the executive order was lunar competition from China - a factor that Nasa administrator Jared Isaacman has laid out explicitly.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

And, to be honest, had I not explicitly tested my speeds, I probably wouldn’t have noticed the slowdown.

From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026

Unlike conventional police departments, the Guard’s mandate explicitly emphasized the novel idea of preventing crime rather than merely arresting wrongdoers after the fact.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023