explicit

Very specific, clear, or detailed.

Adjective

  1. Very specific, clear, or detailed.
    • I gave explicit instructions for him to stay here, but he followed me, anyway.
    • If the task is indeed a difficult one, it may be worthwhile to attempt an explicit statement as to those aspects of the endeavor that appear to have the greatest importance for success or failure. - 1989 January 5,...

    Synonyms: express manifest overt

    Antonyms: implicit unexplicit vague

  2. Containing material (e.g. language or film footage) that might be deemed offensive or graphic through clear and direct expressions.
    • The film had several scenes including explicit language and sex.
    • Cerberus Scientist: I'm sorry, sir. None of Normandy's surveillance feeds have been responding since Shepard went rogue. Illusive Man: I want it back. Retry the remote lockdown protocols. Cerberus Scientist: After our...

    Synonyms: raunchy

    Antonyms: circumspect

Origin

Borrowed from French explicite, from Latin explicitus (“disentangled, easy”), variant of explicātus.

Forms

more explicit most explicit

Synonyms

clear direct explicit express monosemic monosemous patent plain specific unambiguous unequivocal univocal

Antonyms

ambiguous equivocal implicit implied polysemous polysemic unexplicit vague

Hypernyms

distinct obvious overt

Hyponyms

definitive

Related

explicate explication explicator blunt explicitly specify

Derived

explicitally explicitate explicitation explicit function explicitization explicitize explicitly explicit modeling explicitness hyperexplicit inexplicit nonexplicit overexplicit semiexplicit sexplicit

Noun

  1. The final few words of a text.

    Antonyms: incipit

Forms

explicits

Phrase

  1. Used at the conclusion of a book to indicate the end.

Origin

Abbreviated from Latin explicitus est liber (“the book is set in order, ended”).