implication

noun

im·​pli·​ca·​tion ˌim-plə-ˈkā-shən 

1

: something implied: such as

a

: a possible significance

the book has political implications

b

: suggestion

2

a

: close connection

especially : an incriminating involvement

b

: the act of implicating : the state of being implicated

3

a

: the act of implying : the state of being implied

b(1)

: a logical relation between two propositions that fails to hold only if the first is true and the second is false see Truth Table

(2)

: a logical relationship between two propositions in which if the first is true the second is true

(3)

: a statement exhibiting a relation of implication

implicative

ˈim-plə-ˌkā-tiv 

im-ˈpli-kə-

adjective

implicatively adverb

implicativeness noun

Examples of implication in a Sentence

… but whereas Updike and Roth work to establish connection and coherence in the face of time's chaos, DeLillo is an artist of diffusion and dispersal, of implication and missing information. —A. O. Scott, New York Times Book Review, 21 May 2006

… the power of ideas to transform the world is itself accelerating. Although people readily agree with this observation when simply stated, very few people truly appreciate its profound implications. —Ray Kurzweil, Curious Minds, (2004) 2005

… the astronomer Edwin Hubble found that the universe is expanding, and by implication must have originated a finite time ago in an explosion popularly called the big bang. —Paul Davies, The New Physics, 1989

I'm offended by his implication that women can't be good at mathematics.

He condemned the court and, by implication, the entire legal system.

He was shocked by the implication of his partner in the theft.

Recent Examples on the Web

The risk is that the Bukele model, with all its grave human rights implications, becomes the flavor of the month as elections come up in Chile, Colombia, and elsewhere. —Christopher Sabatini, Time, 30 Aug. 2025

The conclusion of the case could have implications for how streaming services frame digital content. —Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 29 Aug. 2025

The Boston Red Sox, who kicked off a critical four-game series with their archrival New York Yankees with postseason implications Thursday, are discussing moving a two-time All-Star starter to their bullpen. —Jon Paul Hoornstra, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025

Still, TikTok seems to be addressing the financial implications of its regulatory threats by doubling down on cost-cutting. —Iain Martin, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English implicacioun "complication, complexity," borrowed from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French implicacion "act of implying," borrowed from Medieval Latin implicātiōn-, implicātiō "entanglement, act of implying something, statement with implicit meaning," going back to Latin, "action of weaving in, intricacy," from implicāre "to fold about itself, entwine, involve" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at implicate

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2b

Rhymes for implication

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

implication

noun

im·​pli·​ca·​tion ˌim-plə-ˈkā-shən 

1

: the act of implicating : the state of being implicated

2

a

: the act of implying : the state of being implied

b

: something implied

Legal Definition

implication

noun

im·​pli·​ca·​tion ˌim-plə-ˈkā-shən 

1

: the act of implicating : the state of being implicated

2

: the act of implying : the state of being implied

3

: something implied