Elicit and Illicit
What is the difference between elicit and illicit?
- To elicit means to draw out or to obtain (usually information).
- Illicit means illegal.
Elicit and Illicit
The words elicit and illicit sound similar, but their meanings are very different.Elicit
The verb to elicit means to obtain. It has the connotation of actively obtaining something (usually information). It can often be translated as to draw out, to extract, to obtain information, to deduce, or to construe.Examples:
- Have a chat with the boss at lunch and see what information you can elicit.
(See what information you can extract.)
- His questioning sought to elicit the conclusion reached before the hearing began.
(His questioning sought to draw out the conclusion.)
- Fog always seems to elicit strong feelings of melancholy.
(Fog always seems to draw out strong feelings.)
Illicit
The adjective illicit means illegal or contrary to accepted morality (i.e., naughty).Examples:
- The act seeks to prevent the illicit trafficking of narcotics.
- We have been told to expect a purge on illicit file-sharing web sites.
A Quick Test
Elicit Means Extract
Let the first letter of elicit remind you that it means extract.Illicit Means Illegal
Let the first three letters of illicit remind you that it means illegal.- Do you disagree with something on this page?
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