implication

[im-pli-key-shuhn]

noun

1. something implied or suggested as naturally to be inferred or understood.

   to resent an implication of dishonesty.

2. the act of implying.

   His implication of immediate changes surprised us.

3. the state of being implied.

   to know only by implication.

4. Logic.,  the relation that holds between two propositions, or classes of propositions, in virtue of which one is logically deducible from the other.

5. the act of implicating or indicating that one or more persons may be involved, as in a crime.

   The implication of his accomplices came only after hours of grueling questioning by the police.

6. the state of being implicated.

   We recently heard of his implication in a conspiracy.

7. Usually implications. relationships of a close or intimate nature; involvements.

   the religious implications of ancient astrology.

   Synonyms: connection

implication

/ ˌɪmplɪˈkeɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of implicating or the state of being implicated

2. something that is implied; suggestion

   the implication of your silence is that you're bored

3. logic

   1. the operator that forms a sentence from two given sentences and corresponds to the English if … then …

   2. a sentence so formed. Usually written p→q or p⊃q, where p,q are the component sentences, it is true except when p (the antecedent) is true and q (the consequent) is false

   3. the relation between such sentences

Other Word Forms

• implicational adjective
• nonimplication noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of implication¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English implicacio(u)n, from Latin implicātiōn-, stem of implicātiō “an interweaving,” equivalent to implicāt(us) “interwoven” ( implicate ) + -ion

Example Sentences

These findings may have important implications for drug development and advanced materials.

Read more on Science Daily

Easing geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine are weighing on prices, and any peace deal could have broader implications for the crude market, ANZ Research writes in a note.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But the implication is clear: For many Americans, personal well-being matters more than family.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

For traders, the implications of all of this are clear to see.

Read more on Barron's

"These are massive issues... when you drill down into examples of how this might be applied, it has big implications for individuals, it has big implications for businesses and public services," he said.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• conclusion 
• connotation 
• indication 
• meaning 
• overtone 
• ramification 
• significance