Explicit — The opposite of implicit, which you also need to know
Explicit has a lot of meanings, but they are all related to being easily perceived, or out in the open, so to speak.
From reports on social media, it appears that the word “explicit” showed up on the December SAT. It’s a fairly common word, so I would rank it as easy, but there are a couple of meanings that are important to know. It is also helpful to understand that the prefix “ex,” means “out” (the opposite, “im,” means “in”). So, explicit means showing everything completely on the outside, and implicit means implied or somewhat hidden.
We talk about explicit instructions. Someone might say something like, :I explicitly told you to have dinner ready by 6 p.m.,” or we even talk about explicit language, which would be language that is more suitable for adults or mature situations. Let’s learn a little bit more and see some examples.
📚️ Definition of Explicit
Explicit (adjective): Stated clearly and in detail, leaving no room for confusion or doubt. Example: to give explicit instructions. Showing, describing, or depicting nudity or sexual activity. Example: explicit writing.
🗣️ Pronunciation of Explicit
IPA: /ɪkˈsplɪs.ɪt/ (See IPA key)
Respelling: ihk-SPLIHS-it
📰 Examples of Explicit
Here are some examples of the word explicit:
The recipe gave explicit for how to make the hummus, down to the best mixing technique.
The Constitution’s First Amendment contains explicit protections for freedom of speech, religion, and the press.