Elicit vs Illicit: Understanding the Difference

"Elicit" and "illicit" are commonly confused because they sound very similar and differ by only one letter. However, they have completely different meanings - one is a verb about drawing out information, and the other is an adjective describing something illegal. This guide will help you understand and use each word correctly.

Quick Answer

• Elicit = to draw out or evoke a response (verb)
• Illicit = illegal or forbidden (adjective)

Elicit: Definition and Usage

Elicit is a verb that means to draw out, evoke, or bring forth a response, reaction, or information.

Common Meanings of Elicit:

1. To draw out information or a response

   • The detective tried to elicit a confession.
   • Her question elicited an interesting discussion.

2. To evoke or bring forth (feelings, reactions)

   • The speech elicited strong emotions.
   • The comedian's joke elicited laughter.

3. To extract or obtain (usually information)

   • Researchers elicited data through surveys.
   • The interviewer elicited honest answers.

Elicit Verb Forms:

• Present: elicit/elicits
• Past: elicited
• Present participle: eliciting
• Past participle: elicited

Examples of "Elicit":

Drawing out information:

• The therapist tried to elicit more details about the incident.
• Police could not elicit any useful information from witnesses.
• The teacher elicits participation through engaging questions.

Evoking reactions:

• The performance elicited a standing ovation.
• His comment elicited angry responses.
• The survey elicited surprising results.

Academic/Research:

• The study aims to elicit responses from participants.
• Researchers elicited honest feedback through anonymous surveys.
• The test elicits various cognitive abilities.

Professional:

• The manager tried to elicit suggestions from the team.
• The presentation elicited many questions.
• Good leaders elicit the best from their employees.

General:

• The movie elicited tears from the audience.
• Her smile elicited a warm feeling.
• The proposal elicited mixed reactions.

Illicit: Definition and Usage

Illicit is an adjective that means illegal, forbidden, or not permitted by law or rules.

Common Meanings of Illicit:

1. Illegal or against the law

   • Illicit drugs are prohibited.
   • They engaged in illicit activities.

2. Forbidden or not approved

   • The illicit affair was discovered.
   • Illicit trade harms the economy.

3. Unauthorized or improper

   • Illicit access to the system
   • Illicit copying of materials

Examples of "Illicit":

Legal context:

• The police seized illicit substances.
• Illicit weapons were found at the border.
• He was arrested for illicit trafficking.

Criminal activity:

• The gang was involved in illicit activities.
• Illicit trade networks were dismantled.
• They profited from illicit sales.

Relationships:

• The illicit affair ended badly.
• They conducted an illicit romance.
• The illicit relationship violated company policy.

Business/Commerce:

• Illicit financial transactions were investigated.
• The market was flooded with illicit goods.
• Illicit copying violates copyright laws.

General:

• He made an illicit copy of the software.
• Illicit gambling operations were shut down.
• The illicit nature of the deal made them nervous.

Key Differences

Elicit	Illicit
Verb	Adjective
To draw out/evoke	Illegal/forbidden
Starts with "E"	Starts with "I"
Positive/neutral action	Negative/illegal
About obtaining responses	About breaking rules
Evoke = Elicit	Illegal = Illicit

Memory Tricks

1. The First Letter Association (Most Popular!)

• Elicit = Evoke, Extract (both verbs starting with E)
• Illicit = Illegal (both adjectives starting with I)

2. The Part of Speech Trick

• Elicit = vErb (has an E)
• Illicit = It's an adjective (starts with I)

3. The "I" for Illegal Trick

• Illicit has TWO I's → Illegal
• Elicit has an E → Evoke

4. The Action vs Description Trick

• Elicit = action word (you DO it)
• Illicit = describing word (it IS it)

5. The Substitution Test

• Can you replace it with "bring out" or "evoke"? → Use elicit
• Can you replace it with "illegal" or "forbidden"? → Use illicit

Common Mistakes and Corrections

✗ Incorrect:

1. The police found elicit drugs. (Wrong!)
2. Her speech illicited applause. (Wrong!)
3. They engaged in elicit activities. (Wrong!)
4. The question illicited an interesting response. (Wrong!)
5. Elicit substances are illegal. (Wrong!)
6. The teacher tried to illicit answers. (Wrong!)

✓ Correct:

1. The police found illicit drugs.
2. Her speech elicited applause.
3. They engaged in illicit activities.
4. The question elicited an interesting response.
5. Illicit substances are illegal.
6. The teacher tried to elicit answers.

Related Words and Phrases

Elicit:

• Elicitation (noun) - the act of eliciting
• Elicitor (noun) - something that elicits
• Elicited (adjective) - drawn out or evoked

Examples:

• The elicitation of information was challenging.
• Pain is an elicitor of the stress response.
• The elicited responses were analyzed.

Illicit:

• Illicitly (adverb) - in an illicit manner
• Illicitness (noun) - the quality of being illicit
• Illicit activity (phrase) - illegal action

Examples:

• The goods were illicitly obtained.
• The illicitness of the operation was clear.
• Illicit activities include drug trafficking.

Note: "Illicited" is NOT a word!

A common mistake is writing "illicited" as the past tense of something. This word doesn't exist!

Wrong:

• ✗ The speech illicited applause.
• ✗ His actions illicited criticism.

Correct:

• ✓ The speech elicited applause.
• ✓ His actions elicited criticism.

Using Both Words Together

Sometimes you might use both in the same context:

• The investigation elicited information about illicit activities.

  • (Drew out information about illegal activities)

• Questions elicited details about the illicit trade network.

  • (Brought forth details about illegal trade)

• The survey elicited opinions on illicit drug use.

  • (Obtained opinions about illegal drugs)

Common Phrases

With "Elicit":

• Elicit a response
• Elicit information
• Elicit feedback
• Elicit emotions
• Elicit laughter
• Elicit cooperation
• Elicit answers
• Elicit reactions
• Fail to elicit
• Designed to elicit

With "Illicit":

• Illicit drugs
• Illicit activities
• Illicit affair
• Illicit trade
• Illicit substances
• Illicit behavior
• Illicit relationship
• Illicit gains
• Illicit trafficking
• Illicit goods

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Choose Elicit or Illicit

1. The police seized _____ drugs.
2. Her performance _____ ed a standing ovation.
3. They were involved in _____ trading.
4. The interviewer tried to _____ honest answers.
5. _____ substances are prohibited by law.
6. The speech _____ ed strong reactions.
7. He was arrested for _____ activities.
8. The teacher _____ s participation through questions.
9. The _____ affair was exposed.
10. The survey _____ ed interesting responses.

Answers:

1. illicit, 2) elicit, 3) illicit, 4) elicit, 5) Illicit, 6) elicit, 7) illicit, 8) elicit, 9) illicit, 10) elicit

Exercise 2: Correct the Mistakes

Fix the errors in these sentences:

1. The question illicited many responses.
2. Police found elicit weapons.
3. The movie illicited tears from viewers.
4. They engaged in elicit trade.
5. The teacher tried to illicit class discussion.

Answers:

1. elicited (verb - evoked)
2. illicit (adjective - illegal)
3. elicited (verb - evoked)
4. illicit (adjective - illegal)
5. elicit (verb - draw out)

Exercise 3: Fill in the Blanks

Complete with the correct form:

1. The detective hoped to _____ a confession. (verb)
2. _____ drugs were found in the vehicle. (adjective)
3. Her comment _____ ed angry reactions. (past tense verb)
4. The _____ nature of the deal worried them. (adjective)
5. Researchers _____ responses through surveys. (verb)

Answers:

1. elicit, 2) Illicit, 3) elicit, 4) illicit, 5) elicit

Context-Specific Usage

Academic/Research:

Elicit:

• Studies elicit data from participants.
• Tests elicit various responses.
• Researchers elicit honest feedback.

Illicit:

• Research on illicit drug use.
• Studies of illicit market dynamics.
• Papers examining illicit behavior.

Law Enforcement:

Elicit:

• Interrogators elicit confessions.
• Interviews elicit crucial information.
• Investigations elicit evidence.

Illicit:

• Illicit drugs are contraband.
• Illicit weapons are confiscated.
• Illicit activities are prosecuted.

Business:

Elicit:

• Surveys elicit customer feedback.
• Meetings elicit new ideas.
• Presentations elicit questions.

Illicit:

• Illicit financial transactions.
• Illicit trade practices.
• Illicit copying of materials.

Education:

Elicit:

• Teachers elicit responses from students.
• Questions elicit critical thinking.
• Discussions elicit different viewpoints.

Illicit:

• Illicit copying of exams.
• Illicit collaboration on tests.
• Rules against illicit behavior.

Journalism:

Elicit:

• Interviews elicit revealing statements.
• Questions elicit newsworthy responses.
• Reporters elicit information from sources.

Illicit:

• Investigative pieces on illicit trade.
• Reports about illicit activities.
• Exposing illicit operations.

Pronunciation Guide

Elicit:

Pronunciation: ee-LIS-it or ih-LIS-it

• Stress on middle syllable: e-LIS-it
• Sounds like: "ee-LISS-it"

Illicit:

Pronunciation: ih-LIS-it

• Stress on middle syllable: i-LIS-it
• Sounds like: "ih-LISS-it"

Note: They sound very similar, which is why they're often confused!

Opposite and Related Terms

Elicit:

Related verbs:

• Evoke
• Extract
• Draw out
• Obtain
• Bring forth
• Solicit (similar but different)

Opposites:

• Suppress
• Conceal
• Hide
• Withhold

Illicit:

Synonyms:

• Illegal
• Unlawful
• Forbidden
• Prohibited
• Unauthorized
• Illegitimate

Opposites:

• Licit (legal, lawful)
• Legal
• Lawful
• Authorized
• Legitimate
• Permitted

Advanced Tips

Elicit in Different Tenses:

Present:

• Teachers elicit responses daily.
• This question elicits debate.

Past:

• The speech elicited applause.
• They elicited no response.

Present Continuous:

• She is eliciting feedback.
• The study is eliciting data.

Present Perfect:

• The investigation has elicited new evidence.
• Questions have elicited various responses.

Future:

• This will elicit strong reactions.
• The survey will elicit honest opinions.

Illicit with Different Nouns:

Common collocations:

• Illicit + drugs, substances, narcotics
• Illicit + activities, operations, dealings
• Illicit + trade, trafficking, commerce
• Illicit + affair, relationship, romance
• Illicit + gains, profits, income
• Illicit + access, entry, use

Grammar Notes

Elicit is Always a Verb:

Subject + elicit + object:

• The teacher elicits responses.
• Questions elicit answers.
• Her smile elicited warmth.

Cannot be used as an adjective:

• ✗ Elicit activities (Wrong!)
• ✓ Activities that elicit responses (Correct)

Illicit is Always an Adjective:

Illicit + noun:

• Illicit drugs
• Illicit activities
• Illicit trade

Cannot be used as a verb:

• ✗ They illicit responses (Wrong!)
• ✓ They elicit responses (Correct)

Summary

Elicit (verb):

• Means to draw out or evoke
• Used for responses, information, reactions
• Action word - you DO it
• Think: Evoke = Elicit
• Examples: elicit feedback, elicit laughter

Illicit (adjective):

• Means illegal or forbidden
• Describes illegal things or activities
• Descriptive word - things ARE it
• Think: Illegal = Illicit
• Examples: illicit drugs, illicit trade

Quick Decision Guide:

1. Is it a verb (action)? → Probably elicit
2. Is it an adjective (describing)? → Probably illicit
3. Does it mean "bring out"? → Elicit
4. Does it mean "illegal"? → Illicit
5. Can you replace with "evoke"? → Elicit
6. Can you replace with "illegal"? → Illicit

Common Error to Avoid:

• "Illicited" is NOT a word!
• The past tense of elicit is "elicited"

Conclusion

While "elicit" and "illicit" sound similar and look similar, they are completely different parts of speech with unrelated meanings. Elicit is a verb meaning to draw out or evoke a response, while illicit is an adjective meaning illegal or forbidden. The easiest way to remember: Elicit means to Evoke (both start with E), and Illicit means Illegal (both start with I). Also remember the grammar difference: elicit is something you DO (verb), while illicit is something that things ARE (adjective). One final crucial tip: "illicited" is NOT a word - the past tense you're looking for is "elicited"! With these memory tricks and clear distinctions, you'll never confuse these words again.