# implicate

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈɪmplɪkeɪt/ · frequency rank #35,350

## Definitions
1. To show to be connected or involved in an unfavorable or criminal way.
2. To imply, to have as a necessary consequence or accompaniment.
3. To imply without entailing; to have as an implicature.
4. To fold or twist together, intertwine, interlace, entangle, entwine.

## Etymology
First attested in the 15th century, in Middle English; inherited from Middle English implicaten (poorly attested), from implicat(e) (“wrapped, entwined; involved, connected (with)”, possibly also used as the past participle of implicaten) + -en (verb-forming suffix), borrowed from Latin implicātus, perfect passive participle of implicō (“to entangle, involve”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from plicō (“to fold”). Doublet of imply and employ.

## Easily confused with
- **implicit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/implicate-vs-implicit)

## Common misspellings (13)
`imlpicate`, `immplicate`, `impilcate`, `implciate`, `impliacte`, `implicaet`, `implicatte`, `impliccate`, `implictae`, `impllicate`, `impplicate`, `ipmlicate`, `miplicate`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/implicate