Elicit and illicit sound almost the same out loud, but one is a verb about drawing out a response and the other is an adjective about breaking the law.
To elicit is to draw out a response, answer, or reaction from someone.
elicit full definition →
Illicit describes something forbidden or not allowed, often by law.
illicit full definition →
| elicit | illicit | |
|---|---|---|
| Part of speech | Verb | Adjective |
| Meaning | To draw out a response | Illegal or forbidden |
| Simple test | "to elicit a reaction" means to cause a reaction | "an illicit deal" means an illegal deal |
Elicit is a verb meaning to draw something out. Illicit is an adjective meaning against the rules. If it's illegal, it's illicit, with an I for illegal.
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