implicit

American  

[im-plis-it] / ɪmˈplɪs ɪt /

adjective

1. implied, rather than expressly stated.

   implicit agreement.

2. unquestioning or unreserved; unconditional: implicit obedience;

   implicit trust;

   implicit obedience;

   implicit confidence.

   Synonyms:

   total, complete, absolute, unqualified

3. potentially contained (usually followed byin ).

   to bring out the drama implicit in the occasion.

4. Mathematics. (of a function) having the dependent variable not explicitly expressed in terms of the independent variables, as x 2 + y 2 = 1.

5. Obsolete. entangled.

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implicit British  

/ ɪmˈplɪsɪt /

adjective

1. not explicit; implied; indirect

   there was implicit criticism in his voice

2. absolute and unreserved; unquestioning

   you have implicit trust in him

3. contained or inherent

   to bring out the anger implicit in the argument

4. maths (of a function) having an equation of the form f( x,y ) = 0, in which y cannot be directly expressed in terms of x, as in xy + x ² + y ³ x ² = 0 Compare explicit 1

5. obsolete intertwined

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Other Word Forms

• implicitly adverb
• implicitness noun
• implicity noun

Etymology

Origin of implicit

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin implicitus “involved, obscure,” variant past participle of implicāre; implicate, -ite ²

Example Sentences

The same access journalism — the implicit bargain in which reporters trade critical distance for proximity to power — remains.

From Salon • Mar. 2, 2026

Like every other detail here, that implicit complaint is dusty and ossified, and Mr. Williamson’s formerly wised-up dialogue has been supplanted by a grinding earnestness, with everyone constantly asking about one another’s feelings.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026

Meanwhile, large segments of the financial system that benefit from implicit public support—particularly in the shadow-banking sector—remain subject to far lighter oversight than traditional banks.

From Barron's • Feb. 18, 2026

Scientists know that implicit and explicit learning engage different brain systems, and this distinction may help explain why only speed training was associated with lower dementia risk in this analysis.

From Science Daily • Feb. 11, 2026

But for the most part the new scientists avoided the word ‘evidence’ because it inevitably carried with it an implicit reference to the law courts—a reference that Sprat was willing to make explicit.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

Related Words

• constant
• contained
• definite
• implied
• latent
• steadfast
• tacit
• unshakable
• unspoken