Definition of IMPLICATIONS (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 All these different types of inheritances have different tax implications for your beneficiaries. —James Lange, Forbes, 23 Sep. 2024 Without speaking to the merit or lack of merit of Favre's case what are the implications here in terms of the ability of others to publicly discuss their opinions about stories like the Mississippi fraud case? —Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, 23 Sep. 2024 What to watch: Unlike many of these cases, the bombshell revelations about Robinson have national implications: North Carolina has rocketed into contention to be the most important swing state in the presidential race. —Zachary Basu, Axios, 21 Sep. 2024 According to the team, a better understanding of 3D waves could have implications in several areas. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 19 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for implication

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'implication.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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 1 Oct. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on implication

Last Updated: 26 Sep 2024 - Updated example sentences

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