tacit

[tas-it]

adjective

1. understood without being openly expressed; implied.

   tacit approval.

   Synonyms: implicit, unsaid, unspoken, unexpressed

2. silent; saying nothing.

   a tacit partner.

3. unvoiced or unspoken.

   a tacit prayer.

tacit

/ ˈtæsɪt /

adjective

1. implied or inferred without direct expression; understood

   a tacit agreement

2. created or having effect by operation of law, rather than by being directly expressed

Other Word Forms

• tacitly adverb
• tacitness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of tacit¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin tacitus “silent,” past participle of tacēre “to be silent” (cognate with Gothic thahan; akin to Old Norse thegja )

Word History and Origins

Origin of tacit¹

C17: from Latin tacitus, past participle of tacēre to be silent

Example Sentences

This is a tacit admission that after whatever emerges from the Budget, everyone would benefit from a period of stability, and that has not been the case over the past year.

From BBC

But it's perhaps a tacit acknowledgment that Labour really do have to fight to stay in power after more than a century of hoovering up votes and domination in Welsh politics.

From BBC

The San José double murder took place over three hours, with the tacit cooperation of a California governor, numerous state and city officials and various civic leaders.

From Los Angeles Times

Outposts are illegal under both international and Israeli law, but they receive tacit approval from Netanyahu's government as well as state support in the form of roads, security and utilities.

From BBC

Ticketmaster profited from the allegedly illegal tactics and the "tacit agreement" with brokers, regulators said.

From BBC

Related Words

• implicit 
• implied 
• indirect 
• unspoken