DEFINITIONS

explicit

[ ik-splis-it ]
/ ɪkˈsplɪs ɪt /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR explicit ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

fully and clearly expressed or demonstrated; leaving nothing merely implied; unequivocal: explicit instructions; an explicit act of violence; explicit language.
clearly developed or formulated: explicit knowledge; explicit belief.
definite and unreserved in expression; outspoken: He was quite explicit as to what he expected us to do for him.
described or shown in realistic detail: explicit sexual scenes.
having sexual acts or nudity clearly depicted: explicit movies; explicit books.
Mathematics. (of a function) having the dependent variable expressed directly in terms of the independent variables, as y = 3x + 4.Compare implicit(def 4).

Content related to explicit

Denotation vs. ConnotationIf you want to discuss the meaning of a word, it helps to know the difference between denotation and connotation. These two terms are easy to confuse because they describe related concepts. Additionally, both denotation and connotation stem from the Latin word notāre, meaning “to note.” The denotation of a word or phrase is its explicit or direct meaning. Another way to think of it …
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implied powersRead more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.
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Words related to explicit

precise, accurate, definitive, straightforward, categorical, clear-cut, clear, unequivocal, definite, positive, certain, obvious, exact, correct, absolute, clean-cut, direct, distinct, express, frank

Words nearby explicit

explicans, explicate, explication, explication de texte, explicative, explicit, explicit function, explode, exploded view, explodent, exploding star

Origin of explicit

1605–15; < Latin explicitus unfolded, set forth, variant past participle of explicāre. See explicate

OTHER WORDS FROM explicit

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH explicit

explicit implicit implied
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for explicit

British Dictionary definitions for explicit (1 of 2)

explicit1
/ (ɪkˈsplɪsɪt) /

adjective

precisely and clearly expressed, leaving nothing to implication; fully statedexplicit instructions
graphically detailed, leaving little to the imaginationsexually explicit scenes
openly expressed without reservations; unreserved
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 + zCompare implicit (def. 4)

Derived forms of explicit

explicitly, adverbexplicitness, noun

Word Origin for explicit

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

British Dictionary definitions for explicit (2 of 2)

explicit2
/ (ɪkˈsplɪsɪt) /

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

Word Origin for explicit

Late Latin, probably short for explicitus est liber the book is unfolded (or complete); shortened by analogy with incipit
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012