explicit
explicit
adjective
OPAL W
/ɪkˈsplɪsɪt/
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)
We think such information should be made explicit and not left vague.
The underlying purpose of his novel remains implicit rather than explicit.
Collocations
verbs
bebecomemake something…
adverb
extremelyfairlyvery…
preposition
aboutas to
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.
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
Word Origin
early 17th cent. (as an adjective): from French explicite or Latin explicitus, past participle of explicare ‘unfold’, from ex- ‘out’ + plicare ‘to fold’.