Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
implicature
Noun
/ˌɪmplɪˈkeɪtʃər/
Definition
Implicature refers to what is suggested in an utterance, even though the speaker did not explicitly state it.
Examples
- If someone says, ‘Can you pass the salt?’ they may implicate that they would like to have a meal together.
- The teacher’s comment about the test scores had a strong implicature regarding the need for improvement.
Meaning
It involves conveying additional meaning beyond the literal interpretation of the words used.
Synonyms
- Implication
- Suggestion
- Connotation
