Elicit vs. Illicit

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Understanding the difference between commonly confused words will help you avoid making errors in English usage. Let’s examine the difference between the following:

elicit

Elicit means to extract, evoke, bring forth, or draw out information or a reaction from someone.

Yvette’s virtuoso performance elicited a standing ovation from the audience.
A wonderful performance elicits applause.

illicit

Illicit means something that is forbidden by law or is against societal norms; something illegal or taboo.

Matthew’s illicit scheme to defraud pensioners of money was discovered by the authorities.
This burglar is planning some illicit activities.

☛ These words can be differentiated by remembering that elicit starts with e, as do its synonyms extract and evoke, and illicit starts the same way as its synonym illegal.

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