YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

complicit

Adjective

IPA /kəmˈplɪsɪt/

Understand it. Say it. Use it.

UNDERSTAND THE WORD

Meaning in plain English

Involved with others in an activity that is wrong or dishonest.

SAY IT ALOUD

Pronunciation

complicit/kəmˈplɪsɪt/

PICTURE THE IDEA

See the meaning

Follow the idea

Someone plans a dishonest act
Another person knowingly helps conceal it

Someone complicit in wrongdoing is knowingly involved in it.

SEE IT IN EVERYDAY ENGLISH

Examples in context

Read the examples aloud. Notice how the word fits the sentence, then think of a situation of your own.

In the mystery, the neighbour turns out to be complicit in the deception.
The essay asks whether the fictional assistant was complicit in the cover-up.

MAKE IT STICK

Quick word quiz

Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.

Can you recall the word?

Complete the example using the word from this lesson.

In the mystery, the neighbour turns out to be ________ in the deception.

Show the answer

complicit — Involved with others in an activity that is wrong or dishonest.

Try your own sentence (optional)

Make it yours

Write one sentence using “complicit” about your own life.

Your sentence (optional)

Check your sentence

Does your sentence match this meaning?

Involved with others in an activity that is wrong or dishonest.

Compare: In the mystery, the neighbour turns out to be complicit in the deception.

Check the spelling and how the word fits the sentence. Your example can be different.

Self-review only. Your sentence is not automatically marked, saved or submitted.

This quiz is for practice. To save lesson completion on this device, complete the checks in the app.

Word origin

Formed from complicity by removing the noun ending.

Did you know?

Complicit in a deception or complicit in a cover-up identifies the wrongdoing.

Explore related words

Open a word’s lesson when available, or explore entries that use the related term.

Make the word your own

Say the word aloud and read an example sentence.
Write a new sentence about something familiar to you.
Cover the meaning and try explaining the word in your own words.

Continue with the app’s practice check, then try a sentence of your own to mark this word complete.

Practise this word in the app

Completion and saved words stay in this browser on this device.