explicit

explicit: explicit, express, specific, definite, categorical are comparable when applied to statements, utterances, and language and when meaning perfectly clear in significance or reference.

Something is explicit which is stated so plainly and distinctly that nothing is left to be inferred or to cause difficulty by being vague, equivocal, or ambiguous

{
explicit directions or promises
}

{
to give an explicit and determinate account of what is meant— Bentham
}

Something is express which is both explicit and is uttered or expressed with directness, pointedness, or force

{
an express prohibition
}

{
express testimony
}

{
the defendant should be enjoined from publishing news obtained from the Associated Press for — hours after publication by the plaintiff unless it gives express credit to the Associated Press; the number of hours ... to be settled by the District Court— Justice Holmes
}

{
she sent me the now famous drawings, with the express injunction that I was to show them to no one— Pollitzer
}

Something is specific which is perfectly precise in its reference to a particular thing or in its statement of the details covered or comprehended

{
he made two specific criticisms of the school, one dealing with its lack of a playground, the other with the defective ventilation of certain rooms
}

{
government workers, by specific law, must be fired if they resort to the Fifth Amendment— Time
}

Something is definite which leaves no doubt as to its reference or to its details or as to what is excluded; definite, far more than specific, suggests precise and determinate limitations

{
he was asked to make a definite statement concerning the young man's prospects with the company
}

{
it was a simple, clear, definite question— Sinclair Lewis
}

In practice specific and definite are often used interchangeably without loss; but specific may be preferred when the intent is to stress particularization of reference or specification of details, and definite when it is to emphasize clear limitations; thus, a worker may be given specific instructions about the sequence in which his tasks are to be performed but a definite order not to smoke on the job.

Categorical (see also ULTIMATE 2) implies explicitness without the least suggestion of a qualification or condition; thus, a categorical answer is demanded of a person testifying in court when he is compelled to answer yes or no; a categorical denial is a denial that is complete and contains not the slightest reservations

{
it is perilous to make categorical assertions— Lowes
}

Analogous words: precise, exact, accurate (see CORRECT): *clear, lucid, perspicuous

Antonyms: ambiguous

Contrasted words: equivocal, vague, enigmatic, cryptic, dark, *obscure: implicit, virtual, constructive

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Synonyms:

Express, clear, plain, positive, definite, determinate, categorical, unambiguous, unreserved

Look at other dictionaries:

Explicit — Ex*plic it, a. [L. explicitus; p. p. of explicare to unfold: cf. F. explicite. See {Explicate}, {Exploit}.] 1. Not implied merely, or conveyed by implication; distinctly stated; plain in language; open to the understanding; clear; not obscure or… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
explicit — EXPLICÍT, Ă, expliciţi, te, adj. (Adesea adverbial) Care este exprimat limpede; desluşit, lămurit, clar. ♦ (Despre o funcţie matematică) Care este egal cu o anumită expresie ce conţine numai variabile independente. – Din fr. explicite, lat.… … Dicționar Român
explicit — ⇒EXPLICIT, subst. masc. PALÉOGR. Mot qui indique qu un ouvrage est terminé. Anton. incipit. Quant au septième et dernier ouvrage, appelé, dans l incipit, « paroles secrètes dites par le sauveur à Jude Thomas (...) » et, dans l explicit, « le… … Encyclopédie Universelle
EXPLICIT — vox in fine librorum olim addi solita. Hieronym. ad Marcellam, Scire debemus, apud Hebraeos in fine librorum unum e tribus solere subnecti: ut aut Amen scribant, aut Sela aut Salom, quod exprimit pacem ut solemus nos completis opusculis, ad… … Hofmann J. Lexicon universale
Explicit — (from Latin explicare , to unfold and thus also make visible) can mean: * very specific, clear, or detailed * containing material (e.g. language or film footage) that might be deemed offensive or graphic, e.g. sexually explicit material * the… … Wikipedia
explicit — I adjective absolute, accurate, apertus, beyond doubt, categorical, certain, clear, clearly defined, clearly expressed, clearly formulated, clearly stated, comprehensible, crystal clear, decided, definite, definitus, determinate, direct, distinct … Law dictionary
éxplicit — Latinismo que se emplea en las descripciones bibliográficas, como sustantivo masculino, con el sentido de ‘últimas palabras de un escrito o de un impreso antiguo’. Debe escribirse con tilde por ser palabra esdrújula (→ tilde2, 1.1.3): «El “datnos … Diccionario panhispánico de dudas
explicit — explicit; in·explicit; un·explicit; … English syllables
explicit — [eks plis′it, ik splis′it] adj. [OFr explicite < ML explicitus < L, pp. of explicare: see EXPLICATE] 1. clearly stated and leaving nothing implied; distinctly expressed; definite: distinguished from IMPLICIT 2. saying what is meant, without … English World dictionary
Explicit — Ex pli*cit [LL., an abbreviation of explicitus (est liber) the book (which anciently was a roll of parchment) is unfolded (and, of course, finished ). See {Explicit}, a.] A word formerly used (as finis is now) at the conclusion of a book to… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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