explicit

clearly expressed; leaving nothing implied; unequivocal: explicit instructions; outspoken, precise

Not to be confused with:

implicit – implied rather than expressly stated: an implicit agreement; absolute: implicit trust; inherent

ex·plic·it

(ĭk-splĭs′ĭt)

adj.

a. Fully and clearly expressed; leaving nothing implied: explicit approval.

b. Fully developed or formulated: has an explicit idea of what to say in the paper.

2. Forthright and unreserved in expression: They were explicit in their criticism.

a. Readily observable: an explicit sign of trouble.

b. Describing or portraying nudity or sexual activity in graphic detail.

[Latin explicitus, past participle of explicāre, to unfold; see explicate.]

ex·plic′it·ly adv.

ex·plic′it·ness n.

Synonyms: explicit, definite, express, specific
These adjectives mean entirely clear and unambiguous: explicit statements; a definite answer; my express wishes; a specific purpose.

Antonym: ambiguous

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

explicit

(ɪkˈsplɪsɪt)

adj

1. precisely and clearly expressed, leaving nothing to implication; fully stated: explicit instructions.

2. graphically detailed, leaving little to the imagination: sexually explicit scenes.

3. openly expressed without reservations; unreserved

4. (Mathematics) maths (of a function) having an equation of the form y=f(x), in which y is expressed directly in terms of x, as in y=x⁴ + x + z. Compare implicit⁴

[C17: from Latin explicitus unfolded, from explicāre; see explicate]

exˈplicitly adv

exˈplicitness n

explicit

(ɪkˈsplɪsɪt)

(Literary & Literary Critical Terms) the end; an indication, used esp by medieval scribes, of the end of a book, part of a manuscript, etc

[Late Latin, probably short for explicitus est liber the book is unfolded (or complete); shortened by analogy with incipit]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

ex•plic•it

(ɪkˈsplɪs ɪt)

adj.

1. fully and clearly expressed; leaving nothing implied: explicit instructions.

2. clearly developed or formulated: explicit intent.

3. unreserved in expression; outspoken: explicit language.

4. having sexual acts or nudity clearly depicted: explicit movies; explicit books.

[1605–15; < Latin explicitus, variant past participle of explicāre. See explicate]

ex•plic′it•ly, adv.

ex•plic′it•ness, n.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Adj.	1.	explicit - precisely and clearly expressed or readily observable; leaving nothing to implication; "explicit instructions"; "she made her wishes explicit"; "explicit sexual scenes" expressed definite - precise; explicit and clearly defined; "I want a definite answer"; "a definite statement of the terms of the will"; "a definite amount"; "definite restrictions on the sale of alcohol"; "the wedding date is now definite"; "a definite drop in attendance" denotative, denotive - having the power of explicitly denoting or designating or naming unequivocal, univocal, unambiguous - admitting of no doubt or misunderstanding; having only one meaning or interpretation and leading to only one conclusion; "unequivocal evidence"; "took an unequivocal position"; "an unequivocal success"; "an unequivocal promise"; "an unequivocal (or univocal) statement" overt, open - open and observable; not secret or hidden; "an overt lie"; "overt hostility"; "overt intelligence gathering"; "open ballots" implicit, inexplicit - implied though not directly expressed; inherent in the nature of something; "an implicit agreement not to raise the subject"; "there was implicit criticism in his voice"; "anger was implicit in the argument"; "the oak is implicit in the acorn"
	2.	explicit - in accordance with fact or the primary meaning of a term denotative literal - limited to the explicit meaning of a word or text; "a literal translation"

explicit

adjective

1. clear, obvious, specific, direct, certain, express, plain, absolute, exact, precise, straightforward, definite, overt, unequivocal, unqualified, unambiguous, categorical He left explicit instructions on how to set the video timer.
clear uncertain, obscure, vague, ambiguous, indefinite, cryptic, inexact, oracular

2. frank, direct, open, specific, positive, plain, patent, graphic, distinct, outspoken, upfront (informal), unambiguous, unrestricted, unrestrained, uncensored, unreserved songs containing explicit references to sexual activity
frank implied, suggested, vague, indirect, implicit

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

explicit

adjective

Clearly, fully, and sometimes emphatically expressed:

categorical, clear, clear-cut, decided, definite, express, positive, precise, specific, unambiguous, unequivocal.

Translations

واضِح، صَريح

eksplicitklartydelig

deutlich endeutig

ρητός

explícito

clair explicit explicite limpide

skÿr, skilmerkilegur, greinargóîur

esplicito distinto

apibrėžtasapibrėžtumas

skaidri formulēts

uttrykkelig

açık

明确的

explicit

[ɪksˈplɪsɪt] ADJ [instructions, reference, intention] → explícito, claro; [description, picture] → gráfico; [statement, denial] → categórico
the explicit nature of the photographs → el carácter gráfico de las fotos
to describe sth in explicit detail → describir algo gráficamente
he was explicit about his intentions → fue explícito or claro acerca de sus intenciones
he was explicit on this point → fue muy claro sobre esto
sexually explicit → con claro contenido sexual

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

explicit

[ɪkˈsplɪsɪt] adj

(= frank) [person] → explicite; [language] → direct(e)
sexually explicit → à caractère sexuel
to be explicit about sth → être explicite au sujet de qch

(= declared) [support, commitment] → explicite; [consent] → explicite

(= definite) [instructions] → formel(le)

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

explicit

adj person, statement, description → (klar und) deutlich; orders → eindeutig; instructions, commitment, agreement, support, reference → ausdrücklich; (esp sexually) details, description, picture, photograph → eindeutig; sexually explicit → sexuell explizit; in explicit detail → in allen Einzelheiten; there is no explicit mention of it → es wird nicht ausdrücklich erwähnt; speaking to MPs, he was more explicit → als er zu den Abgeordneten sprach, ging er näher darauf ein; he was explicit about his intentions → er machte seine Absichten ganz deutlich; he was very explicit in his explanations → seine Erklärungen waren sehr deutlich; she was quite explicit in discussing details of the operation → sie diskutierte die Einzelheiten der Operation in aller Deutlichkeit; in explicit terms → klar und deutlich

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

explicit

[ɪksˈplɪsɪt] adj (definite) → netto/a; (instructions, intention, denial) → esplicito/a; (details) → chiaro/a

explicit

(ikˈsplisit) adjective

stated, or stating, fully and clearly. explicit instructions; Can you be more explicit?

exˈplicitly adverb

exˈplicitness noun

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

Stryver, I was about to say:--it might be painful to you to find yourself mistaken, it might be painful to Doctor Manette to have the task of being explicit with you, it might be very painful to Miss Manette to have the task of being explicit with you.

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I've known terrible consequences arise from the denial of a consent, not half as explicit as your own."

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"As explicit as you were when you told me that you would not permit me to go to Guvutu?"

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Promptly came the reply that there was no record on the books of father's owning any stock, and a polite request for more explicit information.

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The enlightened friends to good government in every State, have seen cause to lament the want of precise and explicit precautions in the State constitutions on this head.

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"We can be just as explicit, and much more interesting, by referring to the future." She rose and held up the child kicking and crowing in her arms.

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Oliver, quite elated and honoured by a sense of his importance, faithfully promised to be secret and explicit in his communications.

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We were held by it a minute; then I answered: "They can destroy them!" At this my companion did turn, but the inquiry she launched was a silent one, the effect of which was to make me more explicit. "They don't know, as yet, quite how--but they're trying hard.

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My father's family name being Pirrip, and my Christian name Philip, my infant tongue could make of both names nothing longer or more explicit than Pip.

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At first she only nodded emphatically, but she was presently unable to resist the temptation to be more explicit.

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They also take place in the petit salon, but with the doors tightly closed, and with explicit directions to every one in the house that we are not to be disturbed.

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At that time I would have had a search made--even excavation if necessary--at my own expense, but all suggestions were met with a prompt and explicit negative.

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