Imply vs Explicit - What's the difference?
imply | explicit |
(of a proposition) to have as a necessary consequence
(of a person) to suggest by logical inference
(of a person or proposition) to hint; to insinuate; to suggest tacitly and avoid a direct statement
(archaic) to enfold, entangle.
* 1590 , Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene , I.iv:
Very specific, clear, or detailed.
(euphemism) Containing material (e.g. language or film footage) that might be deemed offensive or graphic.
(obsolete)
As a verb imply
is (of a proposition) to have as a necessary consequence.As an adjective explicit is
explicit.imply
English
Verb
(en-verb)- The proposition that "all dogs are mammals" implies that my dog is a mammal
- When I state that your dog is brown, I am not implying that all dogs are brown
- What do you mean "we need to be more careful with hygiene"? Are you implying that I don't wash my hands?
- And in his bosome secretly there lay / An hatefull Snake, the which his taile vptyes / In many folds, and mortall sting implyes .
Usage notes
* This is a catenative verb that takes the gerund (-ing) . SeeSynonyms
* (to have as a necessary consequence) entail * (to suggest tacitly) allude, hint, insinuate, suggestSee also
* connotation * entailExternal links
* *explicit
English
Adjective
(en adjective)- I gave explicit instructions for him to stay here, but he followed me, anyway.
- The film had several scenes including explicit language and sex.