What does explicit mean?
Word: Explicit
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Explicit means stated clearly and fully, so that nothing is left to guess.
Synonyms: clear, direct, plain, specific
Antonyms: implicit, unclear
How do you spell explicit?
Syllables: ex - plic - it
Tricky part: The sound you hear as s near the end is spelt with a c: explisit is the usual slip.
Watch out for: explisit, explicet, expliset
Memory tip: Explicit and its opposite implicit are a matched pair, and both use a c where you hear an s: ex lays a meaning out, im keeps it in.
Explicit in a sentence
Example 1: The teacher gave explicit instructions not to use calculators.
Example 2: The rule book is explicit about what players may wear.
Example 3: Ma made it explicit that we must be home before dark.
Fun Fact
Explicit and implicit come from Latin plicare, to fold: explicit meant unfolded and laid open, while implicit meant folded in.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word explicit as used in the sentence:
The notice gave explicit directions to the new exam hall.
a) short
b) printed
c) vague
d) official
Show answer
c) vague. Vague directions leave you guessing, which explicit ones never do.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the word in the sentence and choose it:
The safety sign was tlipxcie: no swimming after sunset.
a) exquisite
b) exploit
c) explicit
d) implicit
Show answer
c) explicit. Implicit needs an m and exploit an o, so a sign that says exactly what is forbidden is explicit.
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
The coach left explicite instructions for the junior team about warming up, drinking water and resting between matches at the district tournament in Nagpur.
a) district
b) tournament
c) explicite
d) instructions
Show answer
c) explicite. The word ends in t, with no e after it.
Spell-o-Spell
Three words in the list are spelt correctly and one is misspelt. Choose the meaning of the misspelt word.
1. ambiguous 2. explecit 3. deliberate 4. concise
a) giving information in few words
b) done on purpose
c) having more than one possible meaning
d) stated clearly and fully, leaving nothing to guess
Show answer
d) stated clearly and fully, leaving nothing to guess. Explecit has an e where an i belongs after pl; ambiguous, concise and deliberate are all correct.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which instruction is explicit?
a) Get the form done sometime, if you can manage it.
b) You already know what to do with the form, I think.
c) Submit the form at the front office by 5 p.m. on Friday.
d) Submit the form whenever it suits you, at some point soon.
Show answer
c) Submit the form at the front office by 5 p.m. on Friday.
2. If a recipe gives explicit steps, a beginner ____.
a) can skip most of the steps
b) can follow it without guessing
c) must already know the dish
d) will need help with each step
Show answer
b) can follow it without guessing
