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
1
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 notesIn plain EnglishSharing some of the blame for something bad, usually by helping or by failing to stop it.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
complicit in
complicit silence
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more complicit
- Superlative
- most complicit
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
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
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.
