implication

[ im-pli-key-shuhn ]

noun

1. something implied or suggested as naturally to be inferred or understood:

   to resent an implication of dishonesty.

2. the act of implying:

   His implication of immediate changes surprised us.

3. the state of being implied:

   to know only by implication.

4. Logic. the relation that holds between two propositions, or classes of propositions, in virtue of which one is logically deducible from the other.
5. the act of implicating or indicating that one or more persons may be involved, as in a crime:

   The implication of his accomplices came only after hours of grueling questioning by the police.

6. the state of being implicated:

   We recently heard of his implication in a conspiracy.

7. Usually implications. relationships of a close or intimate nature; involvements:

   the religious implications of ancient astrology.

   Synonyms: connection

implication

/ ˌɪmplɪˈkeɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of implicating or the state of being implicated
2. something that is implied; suggestion

   the implication of your silence is that you're bored

3. logic
   1. the operator that forms a sentence from two given sentences and corresponds to the English if … then …
   2. a sentence so formed. Usually written p→q or p⊃q, where p,q are the component sentences, it is true except when p (the antecedent) is true and q (the consequent) is false
   3. the relation between such sentences

Derived Forms

• ˌimpliˈcational, adjective

Other Words From

• impli·cation·al adjective
• nonim·pli·cation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of implication¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English implicacio(u)n, from Latin implicātiōn-, stem of implicātiō “an interweaving,” equivalent to implicāt(us) “interwoven” ( implicate ) + -ion

Example Sentences

Several years ago, when climate change was beginning to emerge in the vernacular of the extreme right, Taylor’s publications began to reflect his own thoughts on the implications of the warming world.

From Salon

He added that the implications for policing in the capital would "become more public" in the coming weeks.

From BBC

Streeting told Times Radio on Wednesday the policy would have "resource implications" which would "come at the expense of other choices".

From BBC

It may not be fair to judge any film on the potential implications of an election held long after its completion.

From Los Angeles Times

The Welsh government declined to give a view on whether a vote was needed on Tuesday, but said it was in "regular contact" with the UK government to understand the bill's implications.

From BBC

Related Words

• conclusion
• connotation
• indication
• meaning
• overtone
• ramification
• significance