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

Opening an annual meeting that brought together representatives from the countries that are part of the ICC, Tomoko Akane said: "Let me be explicit. We never accept any kind of pressure from anyone."

Read more on Barron's

Tokyo’s position is that Takaichi was talking hypothetically and articulating longstanding Japanese policy, though it was unusual for a sitting prime minister to be so explicit.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

That means being explicit about the value placed on dissent.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Investors would like to see Ramsay give explicit margin targets, she adds.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"If this person's goal, whether explicit or implicit, was in fact to understand the overall landscape of movies in this country, the algorithmic recommendation ends up seriously biasing one's understanding," the authors wrote.

Read more on Science Daily

Related Words

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