explicit adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com

Definition of explicit adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

explicit

adjective
 
/ɪkˈsplɪsɪt/
 
/ɪkˈsplɪsɪt/
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  1. (of a statement or piece of writing) clear and easy to understand, so that you have no doubt what is meant
    • He gave me very explicit directions on how to get there.
    • The reasons for the decision should be made explicit.
    • She made some very explicit references to my personal life.
    compare implicit (1)
    Extra Examples
    • We think such information should be made explicit and not left vague.
    • The underlying purpose of his novel remains implicit rather than explicit.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
    • be
    • become
    • make something
    adverb
    • extremely
    • fairly
    • very
    preposition
    • about
    • as to
    See full entry
  2. (of a person) saying something clearly, exactly and openly synonym frank
    • She was quite explicit about why she had left.
    Extra Examples
    • She told him he needed to improve, without being explicit as to how.
    • The government has been quite explicit about its intentions.
    • The author is quite explicit about her political bias.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
    • be
    • become
    • make something
    adverb
    • extremely
    • fairly
    • very
    preposition
    • about
    • as to
    See full entry
  3. (usually disapproving) describing or showing something, especially sexual activity, with a lot of detail
    • a sexually explicit film
    • a highly explicit description of torture
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
    • be
    • become
    • make something
    adverb
    • extremely
    • fairly
    • very
    preposition
    • about
    • as to
    See full entry
  4. Word Originearly 17th cent. (as an adjective): from French explicite or Latin explicitus, past participle of explicare ‘unfold’, from ex- ‘out’ + plicare ‘to fold’.
See explicit in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee explicit in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
champion
noun
 
 
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