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. Compare implicit ( def 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 /

(no translation)

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

Derived Forms

• exˈplicitness, noun
• exˈplicitly, adverb

Other Words From

• ex·plic·it·ly adverb
• ex·plic·it·ness noun
• o·ver·ex·plic·it adjective
• qua·si-ex·plic·it adjective
• su·per·ex·plic·it adjective
• un·ex·plic·it 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

Trump’s explicit threats against the Bidens, and his first-term record of trying to politicize the Justice Department and FBI, almost justify an unpardonable pardon.

From Los Angeles Times

Though roughly linear, the game has no explicit missions.

From New York Times

Kyle claimed Wallace shared explicit details of his own sex life when working on the book between May and August 2012.

From BBC

In fact, Trump’s legal team drew explicit comparisons between the two cases in a legal filing on Tuesday that cited Hunter Biden’s pardon as reason to dismiss Trump’s New York conviction.

From BBC

Musk led his retweet with the comment “interesting thread”; if that wasn’t an explicit endorsement, it matched his way of amplifying others’ tweets, tending to give them credibility within the Musk-iverse.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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