tacit

adjective

tac·​it ˈta-sət 

1

: expressed or carried on without words or speech

the blush was a tacit answer

—Bram Stoker

2

: implied or indicated (as by an act or by silence) but not actually expressed

tacit consent

tacit admission of guilt

tacitly adverb

tacitness noun

Synonyms

• implicit
• implied
• unexpressed
• unspoken
• unvoiced
• wordless

Examples of tacit in a Sentence

While they got a frosty public response, officials say the private message was a tacit green light. —Mark Thompson, Time, 16 Nov. 1998

Magic requires tacit cooperation of the audience with the magician—an abandonment of skepticism … the willing suspension of disbelief. —Carl Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World, 1996

What a writer must always remember, however, is that with rare exceptions—Edith Wharton then, Louis Auchincloss now—he or she is never really in society; a temporary visa is issued with the tacit stipulation that it will be withdrawn and access denied if confidences are betrayed. —John Gregory Dunne, Harp, 1989

Myself, I like to play the field and see what happens, but there are certain tacit rules: do not mix freshwater fish with those from the sea; do not mix coarse fat fish with delicate ones … —M. F. K. Fisher, With Bold Knife and Fork, 1969

She felt that she had her parents' tacit approval to borrow the car.

There was a tacit agreement that he would pay off the loan.

Recent Examples on the Web

However, what violent extremists perceive as a tacit nod of approval — based on Trump’s own violent rhetoric — could lead to a surge in domestic terrorism in a country that remains anxious, angry and well-armed. —Colin P. Clarke, The Mercury News, 12 Nov. 2024

Observers say Bhutan’s rhetoric on this issue has become increasingly opaque in recent years, and some wonder whether the kingdom’s muted comments are because it’s already reached a tacit understanding with China to give up some territorial claims. —Simone McCarthy, CNN, 5 Nov. 2024

Anything that could be construed as a tacit defense of such behavior hurts the very people Johnson has sworn to protect. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2024

Today, Israel occupies the West Bank and Gaza with the tacit support of the United States, and the Israelis would be glad to see the occupied Arabs leave. —John R. MacArthur, Harper's Magazine, 9 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle French or Latin; Middle French tacite, from Latin tacitus silent, from past participle of tacēre to be silent; akin to Old High German dagēn to be silent

First Known Use

circa 1650, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

tacit

adjective

tac·​it ˈtas-ət 

1

: expressed without words or speech

2

: understood or made known (as by an act or by silence) though not actually expressed

tacit approval

tacitly adverb

tacitness noun

Legal Definition

tacit

adjective

tac·​it ˈta-sət 

1

: implied (as by an act or by silence) rather than express

a tacit admission

2

in the civil law of Louisiana : arising by operation of law

a tacit mortgage

tacitly adverb