WordValeimplication
a likely consequence or suggestion
something suggested rather than stated
In more detail
1. (noun) something that is suggested or indicated indirectly, without being stated openly
2. (noun) the effect or consequence that something has; the result of something being true
Examples
- 1. The implication of her silence was that she disagreed with the decision. 2. We need to understand the implications of climate change for future generations.
How to use implication
Implication has two distinct senses: first, something hinted at or conveyed indirectly (as opposed to stated directly), and second, a consequence or effect of something. Both senses are common in formal and professional contexts. The first sense emphasizes indirect communication; the second emphasizes logical or practical results.
Common phrases
- by implication
- have implications for
- carry implications
- implications of
- the broader implications
Synonyms
suggestion · indication · inference · consequence · result
Opposites
statement · declaration · explicit
Word family
imply (verb) · implicit (adjective) · implicitly (adverb) · implicated (adjective)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse implication with implicature, or use it to mean only the first sense when context requires the second, leading to ambiguity about whether something is indirect suggestion or actual consequence.
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