Definition of IMPLICATION (original) (raw)

: something implied: such as

the book has political implications

: close connection

especially : an incriminating involvement

: the act of implicating : the state of being implicated

: the act of implying : the state of being implied

b(1)

: a logical relation between two propositions that fails to hold only if the first is true and the second is false see [Truth Table](/dictionary/truth table#table)

(2)

: a logical relationship between two propositions in which if the first is true the second is true

(3)

: a statement exhibiting a relation of implication

Examples of implication in a Sentence

… but whereas Updike and Roth work to establish connection and coherence in the face of time's chaos, DeLillo is an artist of diffusion and dispersal, of implication and missing information. —A. O. Scott, New York Times Book Review, 21 May 2006 … the power of ideas to transform the world is itself accelerating. Although people readily agree with this observation when simply stated, very few people truly appreciate its profound implications. —Ray Kurzweil, Curious Minds, (2004) 2005 … the astronomer Edwin Hubble found that the universe is expanding, and by implication must have originated a finite time ago in an explosion popularly called the big bang. —Paul Davies, The New Physics, 1989

I'm offended by his implication that women can't be good at mathematics. He condemned the court and, by implication, the entire legal system. He was shocked by the implication of his partner in the theft.

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

The Beltway is only beginning to grasp the implications. —Matthew Continetti, National Review, 8 Feb. 2025 There are practical implications associated with not making any promises about the size of the audience. —Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 7 Feb. 2025 By the end of the 19th century, the Monroe Doctrine took on a more robust implication, Patrick notes. —Scott Neuman, NPR, 7 Feb. 2025 The four experts laid out the implications of giving untrained individuals access to the technological infrastructure that controls the country. —Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for implication

Word History

Etymology

Middle English implicacioun "complication, complexity," borrowed from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French implicacion "act of implying," borrowed from Medieval Latin implicātiōn-, implicātiō "entanglement, act of implying something, statement with implicit meaning," going back to Latin, "action of weaving in, intricacy," from implicāre "to fold about itself, entwine, involve" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at implicate

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2b

Time Traveler

The first known use of implication was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near implication

Cite this Entry

“Implication.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/implication. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on implication

Last Updated: 11 Feb 2025 - Updated example sentences

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