Explicit means stated clearly and directly, leaving nothing to guess or figure out. When your teacher gives explicit instructions for a project, she spells out exactly what you need to do: how many pages, what format, and when it's due. There's no room for confusion because everything is explained in detail.

The opposite of explicit is implicit, which means suggested or understood without being stated directly. If a friend rolls their eyes when you mention going to the movies, their disinterest is implicit. But if they say, “I don't want to go to the movies,” that's explicit.

Scientists use explicit language in their research papers so other scientists understand exactly what they discovered. Mathematicians write explicit formulas that show each step of a calculation. When you write directions to your house, you want them to be explicit: “Turn left at the red mailbox” is more explicit than “Turn left somewhere near the beginning of the street.”