implication

The term “implication” is a noun and has several meanings:

1. The conclusion that can be drawn from something although it is not explicitly stated.
2. A likely consequence of something.
3. The action or state of being involved in something.

It can also refer to a possible future effect or result. The term is often used in the context of suggesting something without saying it directly. For example, the implication of your silence could be that you’re bored.

Synonyms for “implication” include suggestion, inference, insinuation, innuendo, and hint¹. Its antonym is an explicit statement.

The word “implication” originated from late Middle English (in the sense ‘entwining, being entwined’): from Latin implicatio(n-), from the verb implicare (see implicate).