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implicit

adjective
im·​plic·​it | \ im-ˈpli-sət How to pronounce implicit (audio) \

Definition of implicit

1a : capable of being understood from something else though unexpressed : implied an implicit assumption
b : involved in the nature or essence of something though not revealed, expressed, or developed : potential a sculptor may see different figures implicit in a block of stone— John Dewey
c of a mathematical function : defined by an expression in which the dependent variable and the one or more independent variables are not separated on opposite sides of an equation — compare explicit sense 4
2 : being without doubt or reserve : unquestioning an implicit trust
Other Words from implicit Synonyms & Antonyms Implicit With a Preposition More Example Sentences Learn More about implicit

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Other Words from implicit

implicitly adverb
implicitness noun

Implicit With a Preposition

Implicit is often followed by a preposition, and that preposition is usually in:

"American Horror Story" is a pretty grisly show. No one should be too surprised by that revelation — it’s sort of the promise implicit in its name, after all.
—Lacy Baugher, The Baltimore Sun, 3 Nov. 2016

On less frequent occasions, implicit may be followed by from, with, or within:

[S]uch a ruling seemed implicit from Fullam’s comments.
—Sean O’Sullivan, The News Journal (Wilmington, DE), 4 October 2006

Implicit with the discovery of oil was the hard truth that it wasn't going to last forever.
—Warren Jones et al., Alaska Dispatch News, 1 June 2016

Russia's president was explicit, calling on the West to pressure Kiev to deliver results. Implicit within that was a threat: that Moscow will not play along with the talks forever.
—Sarah Rainsford, BBC News, 14 Aug. 2016

The black dead ocean looked like a mirror of the night; it was cold, implicit with dread and death…
—Norman Mailer, The Naked and the Dead, 1948

Examples of implicit in a Sentence

This assumption, implicit in innumerable statements by President Reagan … dictates most of our current political and military programs. — Henry Steele Commager, Atlantic, March 1982 … in the best stories the end is implicit from the beginning. — Joan Aiken, The Writer, May 1968 The goodness and strength implicit within Pen unfold but slowly. — John DeBruyn, LIT, Spring 1966 The movies borrowed from other arts on the way to finding methods implicit in their medium. — Bernard DeVoto, The World of Fiction, 1950 There is a sense of moral duty implicit in her writings. I have implicit trust in her honesty.
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Recent Examples on the Web

 So, the hope is that at least some of them would be able to overcome this implicit bias. — John Timmer, Wired, "Scientists Avoid Bias When They Know They're Being Tested," 1 Sep. 2019 So, the hope is that at least some of them would be able to overcome this implicit bias. — John Timmer, Ars Technica, "Scientists avoid gender bias when they know they’re being tested for bias," 27 Aug. 2019 Racial bias in policing is not directly addressed by AB 392, but implicit-bias training will probably be a part of new training standards. — Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, "Newsom signs ‘Stephon Clark’s Law,’ setting new rules on police use of force," 19 Aug. 2019 Less promoted but nonetheless implicit was the end of a way of a life, albeit a vestigial one. — Los Angeles Times, "Newsletter: The uncertain fate of the San Fernando Valley’s last remaining commercial citrus grove," 16 Aug. 2019 Personal statements by each artist further reflect on Albers as inspiration and implicit mentor. — Leah Ollman, Los Angeles Times, "Long live Anni Albers: L.A. show pays homage to an overshadowed Bauhaus artist," 5 Aug. 2019 This was one of the many implicit themes coming out of Fortune’s Brainstorm Tech conference in Aspen earlier this month. — Fortune, "As Tech IPOs Grow, Communications Is Even More Crucial," 31 July 2019 Which is an implicit compliment to Kitchens and Henry, in the case of Beckham. — Albert Breer, SI.com, "Odell and Baker Are Clicking—But They Know They Haven’t Won Anything Yet," 29 July 2019 There’s less implicit trust this time around than in the original, making Scar’s bloody end at the hands (er, teeth?) of these same hyenas a lot more understandable. — Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, "All the differences between the original Lion King and the remake," 23 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'implicit.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of implicit

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

History and Etymology for implicit

Latin implicitus, past participle of implicare — see implicate

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More Definitions for implicit

implicit

adjective
How to pronounce implicit (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of implicit

: understood though not clearly or directly stated
: not affected by doubt

See the full definition for implicit in the English Language Learners Dictionary

implicit

adjective
im·​plic·​it | \ im-ˈpli-sət How to pronounce implicit (audio) \

Kids Definition of implicit

1 : understood though not put clearly into words an implicit warning
2 : not affected by doubt : absolute He had my implicit trust.

Other Words from implicit

implicitly adverb

implicit

adjective
im·​plic·​it | \ im-ˈpli-sət How to pronounce implicit (audio) \

Legal Definition of impl

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