Implicit — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /im-ˈpli-sət/ im·plic·it

Meaning & Definition of Implicit

Implicit (adjective)

  1. capable of being understood from something else though not clearly or directly stated, implied
  2. present but not consciously held or recognized
  3. not lessened by doubt, absolute, complete

Implicit (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. understood although not put into words

    "the implicit agreement among members of the outing club is that everyone pays his or her own way on all trips"

    similar: implied, tacit, unexpressed, unspoken, unvoiced, wordless
    related: inferred, presumed, construed, interpreted, unannounced, undeclared, unsaid, untold, hinted, insinuated, intimated, suggested
    opposite: explicit, express, expressed, spoken, stated, voiced
    near: apparent, blatant, evident, manifest, obvious, plain, straightforward, unambiguous, unequivocal, unmistakable

  2. having or showing a mind free from doubt

    "members of the expedition must have implicit trust in their leaders"

    similar: assured, certain, clear, cocksure, confident, doubtless, positive, sanguine, sure
    related: self-assured, self-conceited, self-confident, decisive, resolute, unfaltering, unhesitating, unquestioning, unwavering
    opposite: doubtful, dubious, uncertain, unsure
    near: hesitant, indecisive, vacillating, wavering, diffident, unassuming

  3. existing only as a possibility and not in fact

    "there's a risk implicit in any overseas operation undertaken by the military"

    similar: possible, potential
    related: conceivable, generable, imaginable, plausible, thinkable, likely, probable, conjectural, hypothetical, suppositional, theoretical, alleged, assumed, purported, reputed, supposed, achievable, attainable, doable, feasible, practicable, viable, workable
    opposite: actual, existent, factual, real
    near: authenticated, confirmed, demonstrated, established, proven, substantiated, authentic, bona fide, genuine, true

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Implicit

The most common words with a similar meaning to Implicit:

implied, tacit, unexpressed, unspoken, unvoiced, wordless, assured, certain, clear, cocksure, confident, doubtless, positive, sanguine, sure, possible, potential

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Implicit

Words with the opposite meaning of Implicit:

explicit, express, expressed, spoken, stated, voiced, doubtful, dubious, uncertain, unsure, actual, existent, factual, real

Related Words for Implicit

inferred, presumed, construed, interpreted, unannounced, undeclared, unsaid, untold, hinted, insinuated, intimated, suggested, self-assured, self-conceited, self-confident, decisive, resolute, unfaltering, unhesitating, unquestioning, unwavering, conceivable, generable, imaginable, plausible, thinkable, likely, probable, conjectural, hypothetical

Near Antonyms of Implicit

apparent, blatant, evident, manifest, obvious, plain, straightforward, unambiguous, unequivocal, unmistakable, hesitant, indecisive, vacillating, wavering, diffident, unassuming, authenticated, confirmed, demonstrated, established, proven, substantiated, authentic, bona fide, genuine, true

Word Forms of Implicit

Derived words: implicitly (adverb), implicitness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Implicit

borrowed from French & Medieval Latin; French implicite, going back to Middle French, "complicated, tangled," borrowed from Medieval Latin implicitus "involved, complicated, implied," going back to Latin, "involved, intricate," variant past participle of implicāre "to fold about itself, entwine, involve" implicate

First known use: 1613

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Implicit

Words & Phrases Containing Implicit

implicit bias, implicit differentiation

Frequently Asked Questions about Implicit

What does "Implicit" mean?

"Implicit" means capable of being understood from something else though not clearly or directly stated, implied. As an adjective, it is defined as: capable of being understood from something else though not clearly or directly stated, implied. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Implicit"?

Other words for "Implicit" include implied, tacit, unexpressed, unspoken, unvoiced, wordless, assured and certain. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Implicit" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Implicit"?

There are 61 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Implicit". Common alternatives include implied, tacit, unexpressed, unspoken, unvoiced, wordless, assured, certain, clear and cocksure.

What is the opposite of "Implicit"?

Antonyms of "Implicit" include explicit, express, expressed, spoken, stated, voiced, doubtful and dubious. Near antonyms include apparent, blatant, evident and manifest.

How do you use "Implicit" in a sentence?

Examples of "Implicit" in a sentence: "the implicit agreement among members of the outing club is that everyone pays his or her own way on all trips"; "members of the expedition must have implicit trust in their leaders"; "there's a risk implicit in any overseas operation undertaken by the military".

Is "Implicit" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Implicit" is an adjective.

Is "Implicit" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.

How do you pronounce "Implicit"?

"Implicit" is pronounced /im-ˈpli-sət/ and divided into syllables as im·plic·it.