explicitly

/ɪkˈsplɪsɪtli/
in a clear and direct manner

The instructions were explicitly stated to avoid confusion.

The instructions were clearly and directly stated to prevent misunderstandings.


formal

in a clear, direct, and unambiguous manner

The contract explicitly states the terms of payment.

The contract clearly and directly outlines the payment terms.

Often used to emphasize clarity or to avoid ambiguity in formal or legal contexts.

Collocations

explicitly stateto clearly and directly state somethingexplicitly mentionto clearly and directly mention something

Pro Tip

Formal vs. Informal Use

While 'explicitly' can be used in both formal and informal contexts, it is particularly common in legal, technical, or professional settings where precision is important.

Gold Rule

Avoid Redundancy

Do not use 'explicitly' with words that already imply clarity, such as 'clearly' or 'directly', as this can be redundant.

Word Origin

From the Latin 'explicitus', meaning 'unrolled' or 'unfolded', referring to something made clear or evident.

Usage Notes

Often used in formal or legal contexts to emphasize clarity and avoid ambiguity. Can also be used in everyday language to stress that something is being stated directly.

Word Breakdown

explicit
clear, direct, or unambiguous
root
+
-ly
adverb suffix
suffix
English Dictionary