1 tacit | Definition of tacit
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tacit

adjective
tac·​it | \ ˈta-sÉ™t How to pronounce tacit (audio) \

Definition of tacit

1 : expressed or carried on without words or speech the blush was a tacit answer— Bram Stoker
2 : implied or indicated (as by an act or by silence) but not actually expressed tacit consent tacit admission of guilt
Other Words from tacit Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about tacit

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Other Words from tacit

tacitly adverb
tacitness noun

Examples of tacit in a Sentence

While they got a frosty public response, officials say the private message was a tacit green light. — Mark Thompson, Time, 16 Nov. 1998 Magic requires tacit cooperation of the audience with the magician—an abandonment of skepticism … the willing suspension of disbelief. — Carl Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World, 1996 What a writer must always remember, however, is that with rare exceptions—Edith Wharton then, Louis Auchincloss now—he or she is never really in society; a temporary visa is issued with the tacit stipulation that it will be withdrawn and access denied if confidences are betrayed. — John Gregory Dunne, Harp, 1989 Myself, I like to play the field and see what happens, but there are certain tacit rules: do not mix freshwater fish with those from the sea; do not mix coarse fat fish with delicate ones … — M. F. K. Fisher, With Bold Knife and Fork, 1969 She felt that she had her parents' tacit approval to borrow the car. There was a tacit agreement that he would pay off the loan.
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Recent Examples on the Web

 But there is a tacit agreement not to engage with discussions about the inadequate cladding on the apartment building, overseen by the local council, which made the fire so lethal. — Caroline Hallemann, Town & Country, "Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Could Fly Commercial—But It Won't Stop the Backlash," 22 Aug. 2019 The move, which sent stocks soaring, is a tacit admission of the negative effect his trade war is having on businesses and consumers. — Dylan Byers, NBC News, "What's next for ViacomCBS? More deals could be in its future.," 14 Aug. 2019 During previous talks, both sides came to a tacit agreement that North Korea would stop testing intercontinental-range missiles that can reach most of the US homeland and nuclear weapons. — Joshua Berlinger, CNN, "A month after G20, Trump's policy achievements appear to be unraveling," 2 Aug. 2019 That Ghesquière and the other jury members decided to reward this sort of design is a tacit acknowledgment that this is fashion now. — Cam Wolf, GQ, "Streetwear Labels Can’t Stop Winning Fancy Fashion Awards," 7 June 2018 Peace Now said in a new report that Israeli settlers have founded 32 remote West Bank outposts since 2012, often with tacit government support. — Washington Post, "Israeli group says West Bank outposts boom under Trump," 23 July 2019 This statement from the character Elizabeth Howard (Crystal Fox) to her daughter Bonnie Carlson, on Episode 2 of Big Little Lies’s second season, seemed to be the show’s tacit acknowledgment of its glaring, first-season blind spot. — Shamira Ibrahim, The Atlantic, "Will Big Little Lies Finally Show Up for Bonnie?," 21 July 2019 The bill has the tacit support of the White House, as members of the senator’s staff have had discussions with their counterparts with the administration, the person said. — Daniel Flatley And Glen Carey / Bloomberg, Time, "New Senate Bill Proposes Restrictions on U.S. Visas for Saudi Royal Family," 10 July 2019 In hosting the Japanese designer Tomo Koizumi at his store, Jacobs made tacit acknowledgment of that. — Nicole Phelps, Vogue, "The Top 10 Shows of New York Fashion Week Fall 2019," 14 Feb. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tacit.' 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 tacit

circa 1650, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for tacit

Middle French or Latin; Middle French tacite, from Latin tacitus silent, from past participle of tacēre to be silent; akin to Old High German dagēn to be silent

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More Definitions for tacit

tacit

adjective
How to pronounce tacit (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of tacit

formal : expressed or understood without being directly stated

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

tacit

adjective
tac·​it | \ ˈta-sÉ™t How to pronounce tacit (audio) \

Kids Definition of tacit

: understood or made known without being put into words I have Mom's tacit approval to go to the movie.

Other Words from tacit

tacitly adverb

tacit

adjective
tac·​it | \ ˈta-sÉ™t How to pronounce tacit (audio) \

Legal Definition of tacit

1 : implied (as by an act or by silence) rather than express a tacit admission
2 in the civil law of Louisiana : arising by operation of law a tacit mortgage

Other Words from tacit

tacitly adverb

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More from Merriam-Webster on tacit

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with tacit

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for tacit

Spanish Central: Translation of tacit

Nglish: Translation of tacit for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of tacit for Arabic Speakers

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