explicit

adjective

ex·​plic·​it ik-ˈspli-sət How to pronounce explicit (audio)
1
a
: fully revealed or expressed without vagueness, implication, or ambiguity : leaving no question as to meaning or intent
explicit instructions
compare implicit sense 1a
b
: open in the depiction of nudity or sexuality
explicit books and films
2
: fully developed or formulated
an explicit plan
an explicit notion of our objective
3
: unambiguous in expression
was very explicit on how we are to behave
4
of a mathematical function : defined by an expression containing only independent variables compare implicit sense 3b
explicitness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for explicit

explicit, definite, express, specific mean perfectly clear in meaning.

explicit implies such verbal plainness and distinctness that there is no need for inference and no room for difficulty in understanding.

explicit instructions

definite stresses precise, clear statement or arrangement that leaves no doubt or indecision.

the law is definite in such cases

express implies both explicitness and direct and positive utterance.

her express wishes

specific applies to what is precisely and fully treated in detail or particular.

two specific criticisms

Examples of explicit in a Sentence

From closer restrictions on sexually explicit writing came the success, in the mid-19th century, of the novelist George Thompson, who combined graphically violent scenes set in urban dystopias with coy peekaboo references to sex. Susan Dominus, New York Times Book Review, 5 Apr. 2009
Therefore, the Administration's policy was the explicit, if unpublicized, one that it was necessary to allow Saddam Hussein to put down the rebellions. Elizabeth Drew, New Yorker, 6 May 1991
They were given explicit instructions. Changes to the property can't be done without their explicit consent. The law is very explicit about how these measures should be enacted. a song with explicit lyrics The movie contains scenes of explicit violence.
Recent Examples on the Web This world view—which is, in essence, a theory of mind—takes as its fundamental premise that there is nothing about the human experience that cannot be made explicit in language, fitted into the blanks on a standardized form, and then submitted, in triplicate, to H.R. Kristen Roupenian, The New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2024 Some city leaders have been explicit in discouraging officers from making arrests under the new law. Patrick Svitek, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024 Sales were boosted by the song’s availability in five versions: explicit, clean, instrumental, sped-up and slowed-down. Trevor Anderson, Billboard, 13 Mar. 2024 In March 2023, Utah's Governor signed a bill that prohibits apps such as Tiktok and Instagram from allowing minors to create an account on their platform without the explicit consent of a parent or guardian. Tanay Howard, Parents, 13 Mar. 2024 In California and Illinois, victims can sue perpetrators who create explicit images in their likeness. Jamie Joseph, Fox News, 2 Mar. 2024 But as long as employers maintain implicit or explicit requirements for job applicants to hold degrees, workers with only a high school diploma will see their pool of job opportunities shrink. Preston Cooper, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 The proliferation of deepfakes, most recently explicit images in the likeness of Taylor Swift, have highlighted a fundamental problem with AI. Alyssa Newcomb, Fortune, 11 Mar. 2024 In 2006, referees had been given a similar, but less explicit, edict, and technicals had spiked. Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'explicit.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French explicite, borrowed from Medieval Latin explicitus, going back to Latin, "free from difficulties," variant past participle of explicāre "to free from folds or creases, unroll, disentangle, spread out, set out in words, give an account of" — more at explicate

Note: Verbs built on the stem -plicā- have the variants -plicuī, -plicitus alongside a regular perfect and past participle -plicāvī, -plicātus. Oxford Latin Dictionary notes that for explicāre the variants explicuī, explicitus come later, replacing explicāvī, explicātus after the time of Cicero. See also exploit entry 1.

First Known Use

1549, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of explicit was in 1549

Dictionary Entries Near explicit

Cite this Entry

“Explicit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/explicit. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

explicit

adjective
ex·​plic·​it ik-ˈsplis-ət How to pronounce explicit (audio)
: so clear in statement that there is no doubt about the meaning
explicit instructions
explicitly adverb
explicitness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on explicit

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!