explication.

A detailed analysis or explanation that unfolds the meaning or implications of something.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• explication of a passage
• conceptual explication

On the page

The explication of the passage traced how its terms depended on context.

Conceptual explication clarified the assumptions built into the proposed definition.

Usage notes

Primary category: academic / formal. Forms: Usually uncountable. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings. Established modern English lexical item. No separate regional spelling or grammatical inflection entry. Writing functions: explicit explanation, scope and categorization, proof and interpretation, philosophical foundations. Disciplines: academic writing, formal reasoning, philosophy. Commonness: moderately common.