explicit
Definitions
Stated clearly and in detail, leaving no room for confusion or doubt
明确的，清楚的，毫不含糊的
Describing sexual or violent content shown openly and graphically
露骨的，直白的（性或暴力内容）
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedex- (out) + plic (fold) = "folded out, unrolled flat." When you unfold something completely, every detail is exposed — nothing stays hidden in the creases. That is what explicit means: spelled out so openly there is nothing left to infer. Its exact opposite is implicit (in- + plic, "folded in"), where the meaning stays tucked away.
Root plic still carries 55 more wordsCommon Collocations
- 1.explicit instruction明确的指示
- 2.explicit warning明确的警告
- 3.explicit content露骨的内容
Example Sentences
- 1.
The instructions were explicit, so nobody could claim they misunderstood.
- 2.
She was explicit about what she expected from the team.
- 3.
The film carries a warning for explicit violence.
Easily Confused
explicit vs implicit — they are direct opposites built on the same root. explicit is folded out (clearly said): an explicit agreement is written down. implicit is folded in (implied, understood): an implicit agreement is assumed but never spoken. If it's on the page, it's explicit; if it's between the lines, it's implicit.
Synonym Comparison
- explicit — openly and fully stated, no inference needed
- clear — easy to understand, but not necessarily detailed
- definite — fixed and certain, leaves no doubt about the decision
- unambiguous — has only one possible interpretation
- express — formal/legal: an express condition deliberately stated