explicit

[ik-splis-it]

adjective

1. fully and clearly expressed or demonstrated; leaving nothing merely implied; unequivocal.

   explicit instructions; an explicit act of violence; explicit language.

   Synonyms: unambiguous, exact, precise, definite, express
   Antonyms: ambiguous, indefinite

2. clearly developed or formulated.

   explicit knowledge; explicit belief.

3. definite and unreserved in expression; outspoken.

   He was quite explicit as to what he expected us to do for him.

   Synonyms: unabashed, forthright, open

4. having sexual acts or nudity clearly depicted.

   explicit movies; explicit books.

5. Mathematics.,  (of a function) having the dependent variable expressed directly in terms of the independent variables, as y = 3 x + 4.

explicit

¹

/ ɪkˈsplɪsɪt /

adjective

1. precisely and clearly expressed, leaving nothing to implication; fully stated

   explicit instructions

2. graphically detailed, leaving little to the imagination

   sexually explicit scenes

3. openly expressed without reservations; unreserved

4. maths (of a function) having an equation of the form y=f ( x ), in which y is expressed directly in terms of x, as in y=x ⁴ + x + z Compare implicit

explicit

²

/ ɪkˈsplɪsɪt /

1. the end; an indication, used esp by medieval scribes, of the end of a book, part of a manuscript, etc

Other Word Forms

• explicitness noun
• explicitly adverb
• overexplicit adjective
• quasi-explicit adjective
• superexplicit adjective
• unexplicit adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of explicit¹

First recorded in 1605–15; from Latin explicitus “unfolded, set forth,” variant past participle of explicāre; explicate

Word History and Origins

Origin of explicit¹

C17: from Latin explicitus unfolded, from explicāre; see _explicate

Origin of explicit²

Late Latin, probably short for explicitus est liber the book is unfolded (or complete); shortened by analogy with _incipit

Example Sentences

“We were able to redirect tens of millions of dollars away from more explicit programming and into more family-friendly shows,” Winter said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

There is discontent about how explicit the Church has been in condemning ongoing ICE raids, compared to Catholic leaders for example, while others have focused on providing individual help to those in need.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A website that replaced bonus content for a children's book series with explicit material has been taken down after prompting a school alert.

Read more on BBC

Messages revealed the start of their affair in 2024 with texts becoming "increasingly more explicit" according to the prosecution.

Read more on BBC

A series of children's books has been pulled from school library shelves after a web address printed in the back was found to link to explicit content.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• accurate 
• categorical 
• certain 
• clear 
• clear-cut 
• correct 
• definite 
• definitive 
• exact 
• obvious 
• positive 
• precise 
• straightforward 
• unequivocal