implicit

[ im-plis-it ]
/ ɪmˈplɪs ɪt /

adjective

implied, rather than expressly stated: implicit agreement.
unquestioning or unreserved; absolute: implicit trust; implicit obedience; implicit confidence.
potentially contained (usually followed by in): to bring out the drama implicit in the occasion.
Mathematics. (of a function) having the dependent variable not explicitly expressed in terms of the independent variables, as x2 + y2 = 1.Compare explicit(def 6).
Obsolete. entangled.

Origin of implicit

1590–1600; < Latin implicitus involved, obscure, variant past participle of implicāre. See implicate, -ite2

Related forms

im·plic·it·ly, adverbim·plic·it·ness, im·plic·i·ty, nounun·im·plic·it·ly, adverb

Can be confused

explicit implicit implied
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for implicit

British Dictionary definitions for implicit

implicit

/ (ɪmˈplɪsɪt) /

adjective

not explicit; implied; indirectthere was implicit criticism in his voice
absolute and unreserved; unquestioningyou have implicit trust in him
(when postpositive, foll by in) contained or inherentto bring out the anger implicit in the argument
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 = 0Compare explicit 1 (def. 4)
obsolete intertwined

Derived Forms

implicitly, adverbimplicitness or implicity, noun

Word Origin for implicit

C16: from Latin implicitus, variant of implicātus interwoven; see implicate
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012