Tacit
/ˈtæsɪt/
Definitions
Implied or understood without being openly expressed; unspoken.
/ˈtæsɪt/
Expressed or understood without being directly stated.
They had a tacit agreement not to discuss politics.
💡 Simply: Imagine you and your friend both know you're going to the movies, even though you haven't said it out loud. That unspoken agreement is a tacit understanding, like when you give someone the 'nod' or 'wink' and you both get what you mean.
👶 For kids: It's like when you and your friend both know you're going to play, even if you didn't say it out loud. You just understand!
More Examples
Her tacit approval was evident from her smile.
There was a tacit acknowledgment of the problem.
The contract contained a tacit clause about termination.
How It's Used
"The agreement was tacit, based on their previous interactions."
"There was a tacit understanding between them about their future."
From Latin *tacitus* meaning 'silent, unspoken', from *tacēre* 'to be silent'. It entered English in the early 17th century.
Used in legal and philosophical texts to describe unspoken understandings and agreements.
Memory tip
Think of 'tacit' as a 'silent agreement' or understanding.
Word Origin
"silent, unspoken"