explicit

American  

[ik-splis-it] / ɪkˈsplɪs ɪt /

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.

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explicit ¹ British  

/ 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

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explicit ² British  

/ ɪkˈsplɪsɪt /

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

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Other Word Forms

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

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Etymology

Origin of explicit

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

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Explanation

Anything explicit is completely clear and includes details. If you don't want your little brother to become a snake snack, you'll need to give him explicit instructions for feeding your pet boa constrictor safely. This adjective describes anything that is clear, detailed, and easy to understand. Explicit orders are easy to carry out, and explicit directions are easy to follow. When someone is explicit, they're not beating around the bush or being confusing. Explicit can also mean "offensive" or "graphic," a description that is sometimes included in parental-advisory warnings about "explicit language" or "explicit violence" in movies.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

explicit

The airport's consortium of owners has said they need explicit backing from Burnham before the end of the year in order to proceed with the project.

From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026

Kiwibank spokesman Ben Mabon said the company had been responding to "explicit and harmful content being shared using Buck's image".

From Barron's ● Oct. 12, 2026

A bank in New Zealand has found itself at the centre of an unlikely free speech row after an attempt to remove "explicit" memes about its sheep mascot from social media.

From Barron's ● Oct. 12, 2026

“They want details, they want fast-moving action, they want definitive and explicit descriptions of what’s going on.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026

In the case of these short, stout creatures, it is because of their explicit lack of cunning that they refuse to cower, no matter the size of the threat.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

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Related Words

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

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