adjective

tacit

/ˈtæsɪt/ · say it: TAS·it

understood without being stated

In Sophisticated Everyday

In more detail

1. (adjective) understood or implied without being stated in words

2. (adjective) (of a person) not speaking much; quiet

Examples

1. There was a tacit agreement between them that they would not discuss the accident.
2. He was a tacit man who preferred listening to talking.

How to use tacit

Tacit primarily describes something (agreement, approval, understanding) that is implied or accepted without being openly expressed or formally stated. It is formal and common in legal, business, and academic contexts. The second sense (a tacit person) is less frequent in modern English. Tacit differs from implied in that tacit specifically suggests unstated but mutually understood acceptance.

Common phrases

tacit agreement
tacit approval
tacit understanding
tacit consent
tacit assumption

Synonyms

implied · unspoken · unstated · silent · understood

Opposites

explicit · stated · vocal

Word family

tacitly (adverb) · tacitness (noun)

A common mistake

Learners often confuse tacit with explicit or stated, forgetting that tacit means the opposite—something that is understood without being said aloud.

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