explicit

C1 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ɪkˈsplɪs.ɪt/ See IPA manual

Freq #17370

Meanings

1

adj
Stated clearly and in detail, leaving no room for confusion.

I gave explicit instructions for him to stay here.
2

adj
Showing sex or violence in a very open, graphic way.

The film was rated for adults because of its explicit language and scenes.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · stated clearly and in... express manifest overt expressed

2 adj · showing sex or violence in... raunchy

More clear directmonosemicmonosemouspatent plain specific unambiguous unequivocal univocal

Opposites

ambiguous equivocal implicit impliedpolysemicpolysemousunexplicitvague

Word family

Derived forms explicitallyexplicitateexplicitationexplicitizationexplicitizeexplicitlyexplicitnesshyperexplicitinexplicitnonexplicitoverexplicitsemiexplicit

Related forms blunt explicate explication explicator explicitly specify

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

explicit definition
a definition that states directly what a term means

Adjective + noun

Etymology

Borrowed from French explicite, from Latin explicitus (“disentangled, easy”), variant of explicātus.

*pleḱ- Proto-Indo-European explicitus Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# explicit

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ɪkˈsplɪs.ɪt/
**Frequency rank:** 17370

## Meanings
1. Stated clearly and in detail, leaving no room for confusion.
2. Showing sex or violence in a very open, graphic way.

## Examples
- I gave explicit instructions for him to stay here.
- The film was rated for adults because of its explicit language and scenes.

## Synonyms
- clear
- direct
- express
- monosemic
- monosemous
- patent
- plain
- specific
- unambiguous
- unequivocal
- univocal

## Antonyms
- ambiguous
- equivocal
- implicit
- implied
- polysemic
- polysemous
- unexplicit
- vague

## Derived Forms
- explicitally
- explicitate
- explicitation
- explicitization
- explicitize
- explicitly
- explicitness
- hyperexplicit
- inexplicit
- nonexplicit
- overexplicit
- semiexplicit

## Related Forms
- blunt
- explicate
- explication
- explicator
- explicitly
- specify

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *pleḱ-
- Root: explicitus

## Etymology
Borrowed from French explicite, from Latin explicitus (“disentangled, easy”), variant of explicātus.

## AI Etymology
Explicit is borrowed from French explicite, from Latin explicitus (“disentangled, easy”), variant of explicātus. The historical chain includes *pleḱ- (Proto-Indo-European) and explicitus (Latin). The surrounding word family includes derived forms such as explicitally, explicitate, explicitation, and explicitization and related forms such as blunt, explicate, and explication. In present use it covers stated clearly and in detail, leaving no room for confusion and showing sex or violence in a very open, graphic way.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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