implication

American  

[im-pli-key-shuhn] / ˌɪm plɪˈkeɪ ʃən /

noun

• implications
  plural

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

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implication British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonimplication
  noun
• implicational
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• implications
  plural

Etymology

Origin of implication

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

Explanation

An implication is something that is suggested, or happens, indirectly. When you left the gate open and the dog escaped, you were guilty by implication. Implication has many different senses. Usually, when used in the plural, implications are effects or consequences that may happen in the future. You might ask, "What are the implications of our decision?" Implication is also the state of being implicated, or connected to something bad: "Are you surprised by their implication that you were involved in the crime?"

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

implication implications

The investment implication of Crill’s analysis depends on whether you are a long-term investor or a shorter-term stock-market timer.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026

Instead, we cut to rehearsals for the comeback tour, with a caption informing us the brothers "didn't speak for 15 years", and an implication that all the wounds have been miraculously healed.

From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026

"The implication in my mind is that pollinator decline, or the lack of pollination and selective drive to attract pollinators, is making these plants potentially less able to adapt to climatic shifts."

From Science Daily ● Sep. 4, 2026

New model specs for teens are designed to avoid the use of romantic language, to discourage emotional dependence and to avoid any implication that the chatbot has feelings or consciousness.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026

Sir Lawrence flatly denied prior knowledge of Francis’ efforts and was thoroughly insulted by the implication that he had underhandedly used another scientist’s ideas.

From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson

There could even be implications for wildlife conservation.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 20, 2026

“Senate leadership continues to be concerned about the implications of administrators selectively commenting on faculty activities and has asked UCLA’s Committee on Academic Freedom to consider the issue,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026

What happens at Air Corsica could have implications beyond the French carrier, with the affected ATRs marking the first application of Pratt & Whitney’s new engine for regional planes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026

But the race and ethnicity change is also important and could trigger large implications for public health.

From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026

To this reader, at least, it can hardly be argued that Mendel was unaware of the far-reaching implications of his study: he was trying to unlock the material basis and laws of heredity.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

Related Words

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