Word
implicit
Phoneticsim·plic·it, stress on the second syllable
US/ˌɪmˈpɫɪsət/
UK/ɪmplˈɪsɪt/
Definitions
01suggested but not stated
C1 · Advanced Academic · Formal
adj. suggested or understood without being stated directly in words.
adj. implied or understood though not plainly or directly expressed; often used to describe meanings in a text or conversation.
“There was an implicit agreement between them that they would share the costs.”
“The author's critique of the government was implicit in the way she described the suffering of the townspeople.”
Antonyms
02unquestioning
C2 · Proficiency Formal · Literary
adj. complete and total, without any doubts or questions.
adj. having no reservations or doubts; used to describe absolute trust, faith, or obedience.
“The children had implicit trust in their parents to keep them safe.”
“The soldiers were expected to show implicit obedience to their commander, regardless of the personal risk involved.”
Synonyms
03naturally contained within
C1 · Advanced Academic
adj. being a natural or necessary part of something, even if it is not visible.
adj. contained within the essential nature of something but not openly shown or stated.
“The risks are implicit in any new business venture.”
“The possibility of failure is implicit in the very nature of scientific experimentation.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “implicit” in context.
Adjective
01. implicit assumption
“The study was based on the implicit assumption that all participants had equal access to technology.”
adj + noun
Usage
Frequently paired with nouns like 'agreement', 'assumption', or 'understanding'; often followed by the preposition 'in' when describing something inherent.
Confusables
Explicit = directly stated; implicit = suggested but not directly stated.
Real-World Examples
“One such mechanism is implicit egotism: We tend to unconsciously prefer things that resemble us.” “As I began to connect the dots linking dolphins and whites, I wondered about the deeper meaning of such tales – a meaning that is often implicit for those sharing them.” Etymology
From Middle French implicite, from Latin implicitus, past participle of implico (“I infold, involve, entangle”); see implicate.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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