explicitly
Americanadverb
-
in a way that is clearly expressed, demonstrated, or formulated.
There are a couple of important points that I wish had been made more clearly and explicitly.
We should also explicitly advocate for ourselves when it comes to promotions or raises.
-
in a way that is direct or precise; specifically.
Women and underrepresented minorities are explicitly invited to apply.
-
in a graphic or detailed way; not leaving anything to the imagination.
The art to be displayed cannot include explicitly sexual scenes, nudity, or salacious or revealing imagery.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of explicitly
Explanation
When you explain something explicitly, you do it in great detail, leaving no room for misunderstanding. You could intimidate your little brother by explicitly describing what you'll do if he reads your diary. Something that's said or done explicitly is clear and direct, like an explicitly told story about terrible poverty in India — it leaves out no disturbing details, even if it upsets the listener. Explicitly can also refer to sexual situations or details, like a movie whose sex scenes are shown explicitly, or graphically. The Latin root is explicare, "unfold, unravel, explain."
Vocabulary lists containing explicitly
Vocabulary of the Common Core
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"Sorry, Wrong Number" by Lucille Fletcher
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We Were Liars
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It also said many cast members have been explicitly or publicly complimentary about the care they received on the show.
From BBC • May 18, 2026
While it’s never explicitly stated, the math is easy to add up.
From Salon • May 17, 2026
The US Constitution explicitly bars the establishment of any official religion, but the expression of any is also explicitly protected.
From Barron's • May 17, 2026
Also, I did not talk explicitly about the inequality gap in America.
From MarketWatch • May 15, 2026
His study discussed transformation as a curiosity of microbial biology, but never explicitly mentioned the discovery of a potential chemical basis of heredity.
From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
