implicit

[im-plis-it]

adjective

1. implied, rather than expressly stated.

   implicit agreement.

2. unquestioning or unreserved; unconditional: implicit obedience;

   implicit trust;

   implicit obedience;

   implicit confidence.

   Synonyms: total, complete, absolute, unqualified

3. potentially contained (usually followed byin ).

   to bring out the drama implicit in the occasion.

4. Mathematics.,  (of a function) having the dependent variable not explicitly expressed in terms of the independent variables, as x 2 + y 2 = 1.

5. Obsolete.,  entangled.

implicit

/ ɪmˈplɪsɪt /

adjective

1. not explicit; implied; indirect

   there was implicit criticism in his voice

2. absolute and unreserved; unquestioning

   you have implicit trust in him

3. contained or inherent

   to bring out the anger implicit in the argument

4. maths (of a function) having an equation of the form f( x,y ) = 0, in which y cannot be directly expressed in terms of x, as in xy + x ² + y ³ x ² = 0 Compare explicit 1

5. obsolete,  intertwined

Other Word Forms

• implicitly adverb
• implicitness noun
• implicity noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of implicit¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin implicitus “involved, obscure,” variant past participle of implicāre; implicate, -ite ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of implicit¹

C16: from Latin implicitus, variant of implicātus interwoven; see _implicate

Example Sentences

That kind of empathy and implicit trust, which runs both ways, far outweighs any political considerations, the two said.

From Los Angeles Times

As someone who went to several different schools growing up, Russell became observant of male relationships and the implicit rules by which they operate.

From Los Angeles Times

“In every case there is a person or family that pays a high price and is emblematic of the high human cost that is implicit behind every deportation.”

From Los Angeles Times

For decades, the American government has encouraged everyone who makes an income in the U.S. to pay taxes — regardless of immigration status — with an implicit promise that their information would be protected.

From Salon

Most of us understood the implicit terms of such an agreement: Putin would settle for the land he had illegally seized and controlled, and Ukraine would essentially surrender.

From Salon

Related Words

• constant 
• contained 
• definite 
• implied 
• latent 
• steadfast 
• tacit 
• unshakable 
• unspoken