Make Your Point > Archived Issues > EXPLICIT
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pronounce
EXPLICIT:
Say it "ex PLISS it."
Hear it here.
connect this word to others:
When you hear the word explicit, you might picture those labels on albums, the ones warning you that the content is explicit—meaning the artist isn't holding anything back, that they're giving you their art as-is, without censoring any of the profanity or violence or sexuality.
You might assume that the word explicit is closely related to expletive. After all, an expletive is a curse word, and curse words abound on albums with the "explicit content" labels. Like Eminem's, here.
Interestingly, though, explicit and expletive come from two distinct Latin verbs: expletive is from plere, "to fill," and so it literally means "filled out," while explicit is from plicare, "to fold," and so it literally means "folded out."
With that in mind, see if you can recall the precise opposite of explicit. It literally means "folded inward," and describes things that are hinted at, suggested, not directly stated: __plic__.
(To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.)
definition:
"Explicit" has Latin bits that mean "folded out," or less literally, "fully explained."
Something explicit is clearly expressed in plain, direct language, and is therefore easy to understand. Explicit instructions tell you exactly what to do, and explicit statements tell you exactly what the person means or thinks, with nothing held back, nothing kept secret, and nothing vaguely hinted at.
That's what the word has meant for hundreds of years, and it can still mean that today. But, since 1925 or so, it's also taken on a second, more specific meaning. Explicit things are those containing profane language, or clearly expressing information about sex, drugs, or other taboo topics. That is, when movies, magazines, music, jokes, conversations, and so on use curse words or mention sex or other taboo topics in clear, plain detail, instead of just hinting vaguely at those details, they're being explicit.
grammatical bits:
Part of speech:
Adjective: "They provided explicit instructions;" "She was explicit about her fees and expectations."
Other forms:
The common ones are "explicitly" and "explicitness."
There's a scholarly-sounding verb, "explicate," meaning "to make very clear, or to describe or analyze in detail." It's such a great word that we'll explore it later in its own issue. Its other forms are "explicated," "explicating," "explication(s)," "explicative/explicatory," and "explicator(s)." And, something that can be explicated is "explicable," while something that can't—because it's so hazy or confusing or mysterious—is "inexplicable."
The opposite of "explicit" is "implicit," meaning "not expressed directly: hinted at, suggested, implied."
Okay, now, riddle me this. If we "imply" things, and then they're implicit, then why don't we "exply" things to make them explicit? Why must we "explicate" them? "Exply" sounds cool. But no dictionary lists it.
Lastly, you might be thinking, "Isn't the word 'explain' just fine? Why do we need 'explicate'?" Sure, "explain" is perfectly clear, and more easily understood than "explicate." It's just a completely different word. While "explicate" traces to Latin roots meaning "unfold," "explain" traces to ones meaning "flatten out," or less literally, "make plain, make clear."
how to use it:
"Explicit" is a formal word, and very common. Although its two meanings are quite different, it's usually pretty obvious in context whether it means "profane or sexually graphic" or "clear and specific."
To use that first meaning, you might talk about explicit songs, lyrics, language, artwork, movies, etc. In this sense, the word "explicit" is usually a mild, neutral kind of label: it doesn't criticize what it describes. Like this: "I love that joke from Arrested Development, but I don't include explicit jokes in Make Your Point. Kids read it."
And to use that second meaning of "explicit," you might talk about explicit information, instructions, requests, distinctions, etc. "Let's make sure our goal is explicit, so we'll know for sure whether we achieved it or not."
You can also say that someone is explicit about something: "He's explicit about how the papers will be graded;" "In job postings, we appreciate it when companies are explicit about what they expect and how much they pay."
examples:
"As the entertainment industry rapidly grew in the 2000s, the Chinese government began to develop explicit policies to regulate and control celebrities, their cultural products, media platforms, fan groups and professional associations."
— Dan Chen and Gengsong Gao, Salon, 9 October 2022
"If Cedric had really wanted to give Harry a hand, he would have been a lot more explicit. He, Harry, had told Cedric exactly what was coming in the first task—and Cedric's idea of a fair exchange had been to tell Harry to take a bath."
— J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, 2000
has this page helped you understand "explicit"?
study it:
Explain both meanings of "explicit" without saying "expressed clearly," "unambiguous," "profane," or "graphic."
try it out:
Fill in the blanks: "(Someone) gives explicit (information or instructions) on how to (do something)."
Example 1: "As a student, I appreciated it when teachers gave explicit information about how they'd be grading projects. It eased my anxiety."
Example 2: "She would have brought over homemade cookies and a cold chicken casserole for my dad, along with explicit instructions on how to properly heat it up."
— John Corey Whaley, Where Things Come Back, 2011
before you review, play:
Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.
Our game this month is "The Words are Hard, the Titles are Silly, and the Points Don't Matter!"
In each issue, try matching a given term to a silly title. For example, match the term “desultory” to the video game title “If It Moves, Shoot It!” because desultory methods are random, disorganized, and unmethodical.
If you need a definition for a term, give it a click. Scroll all the way down to see my suggested matches. Give yourself a point for each match you make that matches my match! And give yourself two points for any match that mismatches mine, as long as you can make up some reason for your match, no matter how half-baked.
Try these today:
Terms:
A. nettle
B. sesquipedalian
C. tribalism
Video game titles:
1. Honey I Joined a Cult
2. Irritating Stick
3. Super Ultra Dead Rising 3 Arcade Remix Hyper Edition Ex Plus Alpha
review this word:
A. VAGUE.
B. SPARSE.
C. CURRENT.
2.
According to Slate, Tipper Gore and a coalition of "other Washington wives" were the ones who originally lobbied for _____.
A. warning stickers on albums with explicit lyrics
B. more explicit funding for children's mental health services
C. safer uses of cribs to reduce explicit incidents of babies suffocating
a final word:
I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love. I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words.
From my blog:
On vocabulary...
36 ways to study words.
Why we forget words, & how to remember them.
How to use sophisticated words without being awkward.
On writing...
How to improve any sentence.
How to motivate our kids to write.
How to stop procrastinating and start writing.
How to bulk up your writing when you have to meet a word count.
From my heart: a profound thanks to the generous patrons, donors, and sponsors that make it possible for me to write these emails. If you'd like to be a patron or a donor, please click here. If you'd like to be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.
A disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.
"Explicit" has Latin bits that mean "folded out," or less literally, "fully explained."
Part of speech:
"Explicit" is a formal word, and very common. Although its two meanings are quite different, it's usually pretty obvious in context whether it means "profane or sexually graphic" or "clear and specific."
"As the entertainment industry rapidly grew in the 2000s, the Chinese government began to develop explicit policies to regulate and control celebrities, their cultural products, media platforms, fan groups and professional associations."
Explain both meanings of "explicit" without saying "expressed clearly," "unambiguous," "profane," or "graphic."
Fill in the blanks: "(Someone) gives explicit (information or instructions) on how to (do something)."
Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.
I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love. I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words. |