“Elicit” and “illicit” sound almost identical but have nothing to do with each other — one is a verb about drawing out a response, the other an adjective about something illegal or forbidden.
The Short Answer
Elicit is a verb meaning to draw out or provoke a response. Illicit is an adjective meaning illegal or not permitted. They’re unrelated in meaning despite the near-identical sound.
Examples of “Elicit”
- The question was designed to elicit an honest answer.
- Her joke elicited laughter from the whole room.
- The survey aims to elicit feedback from customers.
- He tried to elicit a reaction from the crowd.
Examples of “Illicit”
- The police shut down an illicit drug operation.
- They were having an illicit affair.
- Illicit trading is punishable by law.
- The company was fined for illicit business practices.
A Simple Memory Trick
“Elicit” starts with “e,” like “extract” — both involve drawing something out. “Illicit” starts with “il-,” the same negative prefix found in “illegal” — a direct reminder that it describes something forbidden.
Why These Words Get Confused
The two words are true homophones for most English speakers — they’re pronounced identically despite coming from entirely different Latin roots (“elicere,” to draw out, versus “illicitus,” not permitted). Because spell-check often won’t flag either word as wrong on its own, this pair is one of the easiest mix-ups to miss in written text.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which word means “to draw out a response”?
A: “Elicit” is the verb meaning to draw out or provoke a reaction or response.
Which word means “illegal”?
A: “Illicit” is the adjective meaning illegal or forbidden, sharing the “il-” prefix with “illegal.”
Do “elicit” and “illicit” sound the same?
A: Yes, for most speakers they’re pronounced identically, which is exactly why this pair is so frequently mixed up in writing.
