explicit
- Stated clearly and in detail, leaving no room for confusion or unstated assumptions.
- Depicting or describing something, especially sex or violence, in graphic or unreserved terms.
In a sentence
- The contract included explicit instructions about payment deadlines and late penalties.
- The film received a restricted rating due to its explicit depiction of violence.
Usage note. Do not confuse 'explicit' with 'implicit': 'explicit' means directly stated, while 'implicit' means implied or understood without being directly expressed—these are near-antonyms.
Where it comes from
English explicit · entered English 17th c.
From Latin 'explicitus,' past participle of 'explicare,' meaning 'to unfold' or 'to explain clearly,' composed of 'ex-' (out) and 'plicare' (to fold). It entered English in the 17th century; medieval scribes used 'explicitus' as a colophon meaning 'here ends' (a book), and the broader sense of 'clearly expressed' followed.