adjective

complicit

kuhm-PLIHS-iht

Complicit (adjective) means Involved in a wrongful act along with others, even if only by staying silent or looking the other way. Example: “Several employees were complicit in covering up the fraud.”

adjective

Involved in a wrongful act along with others, even if only by staying silent or looking the other way.

"Several employees were complicit in covering up the fraud."

"By ignoring the abuse, the manager became complicit in it."

How to use complicit

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSharing some of the blame for something bad, usually by helping or by failing to stop it.

Easily confused with

complicity → complacent →

Common pairings

complicit in complicit silence

Word forms

more complicit comparative, most complicit superlative

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Several employees were _____ in covering up the fraud.

Etymology

Formed from "complicity," likely shaped by words like "explicit" that end in -icit.

Rhymes for complicit

elicit deficit illicit solicit implicit explicit

See all rhymes for complicit →

Frequently asked questions

What does “complicit” mean?

The word “complicit” means involved in a wrongful act along with others, even if only by staying silent or looking the other way. In plain terms, sharing some of the blame for something bad, usually by helping or by failing to stop it.

How do you pronounce “complicit”?

“Complicit” is pronounced kuhm-PLIHS-iht (/kəmˈplɪs.ɪt/ in IPA).

How do you use “complicit” in a sentence?

Here is “complicit” used in a sentence: “Several employees were complicit in covering up the fraud.”

What part of speech is “complicit”?

“Complicit” is an adjective.