verb

entails

in-TAYLZ

Entails (verb) means Third person singular of entail: to involve something as a necessary part or consequence. Example: “The job entails a lot of travel.”

verb

Third person singular of entail: to involve something as a necessary part or consequence.

"The job entails a lot of travel."

"Any surgery entails some risk."

technical In logic, of a statement: to have another statement as its necessary consequence, so that if the first is true the second must be true.

"That every raven is black entails that this raven is black."

legal, historical In property law, to settle land on a fixed line of heirs so that it cannot be sold or bequeathed freely.

"The will entails the estate on the eldest male heir."

How to Use Entails

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishInvolves, or brings with it as a necessary part.

Memory tip

Follow it with a noun or an -ing form: 'the job entails travelling', not 'entails to travel'.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

implies involves requires curtails

Common pairings

what this entails entails a risk entails a great deal of work the role entails

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The job _____ a lot of travel.

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman legal French 'entailler', to cut into a particular shape or restrict, from 'en-' plus 'taille' (a cut, a limitation). The general sense 'to involve as a consequence' developed from the legal one.

Origin: Anglo-Norman

Synonyms

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involves requires means necessitates carries with it implies logically implies

Related Words

way money means agency method budget funds manner

Rhymes for entails

sails Nails entrails

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'entails' and 'implies'?

In everyday English they overlap, but 'entails' means something is necessarily included, while 'implies' can mean merely suggests or hints at. In logic the distinction is strict: entailment is a guaranteed consequence, whereas implication can be a weaker or purely conversational suggestion.

What does an entailed estate mean in novels like Pride and Prejudice?

It means the property is legally tied to a fixed line of heirs, in that case male ones, so the current owner cannot leave it to whoever he chooses. That is why the Bennet daughters cannot inherit Longbourn and it passes to Mr Collins.

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