1. 1. Fully and clearly expressed; leaving nothing implied. 2. Fully and clearly defined or formulated: “generalizations that are powerful, precise, and explicit” (Frederick Turner). 2. Forthright and unreserved in expression: They were explicit in their criticism. 3. 1. Readily observable: an explicit sign of trouble. 2. Describing or portraying nudity or sexual activity in graphic detail. [Latin explicitus, past participle of explicāre, to unfold. See explicate.] explicitly ex·plic'it·ly adv. explicitness ex·plic'it·ness n. SYNONYMS