What does tacitness mean?
Tacitness names the quality of being understood, indicated, or agreed without being stated directly. It often describes an arrangement, agreement, criticism, or emotional message that exists chiefly through implication. A person may communicate tacit disapproval through silence, hesitation, or deliberate avoidance of a question, while two parties may reach tacit agreement without expressly saying so. The word has a formal, analytical tone and is especially useful when the fact that something is unstated is itself significant. It should not be used simply to mean that someone is quiet or reserved, since the central idea is implied communication rather than silence alone. Tacitness also suggests deliberate economy or restraint, giving it a faintly formal and occasionally euphemistic character.
nounThe quality of being tacit, especially of being understood or communicated without being stated explicitly.
- The quality of being tacit; the condition of implying or communicating something without an explicit statement.
"The director's silence conveyed his disapproval with a degree of tacitness that left no room for misunderstanding."
"The treaty was adopted through the tacit cooperation of several governments."
"Her reply, remarkable for its tacitness, suggested displeasure without openly accusing anyone."
Tacitness is normally used as an uncountable noun.
"The legal agreement rested on an atmosphere of trust and tacitness."
Tacitness is the art of meaning something without saying it aloud—a quality rooted in the Latin idea of being silent.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of tacitness
The word is formed from the adjective tacit, meaning unexpressed or understood implicitly, with the suffix -ness. Tacit comes through Old French from Latin tacitus, “silent” or “not spoken,” which is related to tacere, “to be silent.” The same Latin source underlies words such as taciturn and taciturnity.
How tacitness is actually used
Tacitness is formal and relatively uncommon. It emphasizes the absence of explicit expression rather than simple silence, although a tacit understanding may be inferred from conduct or context.