Elicit and Illicit

What is the difference between elicit and illicit?

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:

Illicit

The adjective illicit means illegal or contrary to accepted morality (i.e., naughty).

Examples:

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.


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See Also

What are nouns? What are verbs? List of easily confused words