verb
elucidate
ih-LOO-si-dayt
Elucidate (verb) means to make something clearer by explaining it, especially something that was confusing or only half understood. Example: “The footnotes elucidate several obscure passages in the poem.”
verb
1
To make something clearer by explaining it, especially something that was confusing or only half understood.
"The footnotes elucidate several obscure passages in the poem."
"Could you elucidate what you meant by "restructuring"?"
How to use elucidate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo make something easier to understand.
When to use it
Formal; common in academic, legal and critical writing, and can sound arch in casual speech.
Memory tip
Do not confuse elucidate with elicit: to elicit is to draw a response out of someone, not to clarify.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
elucidate vs elicit
elucidate vs explicate
Common pairings
elucidate the mechanism
further elucidate
elucidate a point
decline to elucidate
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Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The footnotes _____ several obscure passages in the poem.
Etymology
From Late Latin elucidare, from e- "out" and lucidus "clear, bright".
Synonyms
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clarify
explain
illuminate
expound
spell out
crystallise
enlighten
crystallize
crystalize
clear
crystalise
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for elucidate
See all rhymes for elucidate →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between elucidate and explain?
Both mean to make something understandable, but elucidate is more formal and suggests shedding light on something genuinely obscure or complex. You explain the rules of a game; you elucidate an ambiguous clause in a treaty.
Can elucidate be used without an object?
Yes. "He declined to elucidate" is perfectly standard and means he refused to say more. Used this way it sounds notably formal or slightly ironic.
What is the noun from elucidate?
Elucidation, as in "the passage requires some elucidation". The adjective elucidatory exists but is rare.
What is the meaning of elucidate?
"elucidate" (verb) means to make something clearer by explaining it, especially something that was confusing or only half understood.
