Elicit vs illicit
Elicit and illicit sound the same. Elicit is a verb that means to draw out a reaction or information. Illicit is an adjective that means against the law or not allowed.
Illicit and illegal both start with ill.
elicit verb
To get a reaction, an answer, or information from someone.
- The proposal elicited sharp criticism from local business owners.
- Researchers used a short survey to elicit residents' views on the new park.
illicit adjective
Against the law and not allowed.
- Officers uncovered an illicit gambling operation in the back of the restaurant.
- The police seized a truck full of illicit drugs.
Watch out
- Illicit also describes things that go against what society thinks is proper, not only against the law.Their illicit affair had been the talk of the office for months.
Test yourself
The teacher asked questions to blank answers from the shy students.
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elicit. She is drawing out answers, which is what elicit means.
Selling blank goods can lead to a long prison sentence.
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illicit. The goods are against the law, so illicit.
His joke failed to blank even a smile from the crowd.
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elicit. The joke did not get a reaction, so elicit.
The border guards found blank weapons hidden in the van.
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illicit. The weapons were not allowed by law, so illicit.