The Quick Answer What is the difference between elicit and illicit? To elicit means to draw out or to obtain (usually information).

means to draw out or to obtain (usually information). Illicit means illegal. Got it? Take a quick test. Got it? Take a quick test. What is the difference between elicit and illicit?

Elicit and Illicit

Elicit

Have a chat with the boss at lunch and see what information you can elicit.

(See what information you can extract.) His questioning sought to elicit the conclusion reached before the hearing began.

(His questioning sought to draw out the conclusion.) Fog always seems to elicit strong feelings of melancholy. (Fog always seems to draw out strong feelings.)

Illicit

The act seeks to prevent the illicit trafficking of narcotics.

We have been told to expect a purge on illicit file-sharing web sites.

Interactive Exercise Here are three randomly selected questions from a larger exercise, which can be edited, printed to create an exercise worksheet, or sent via email to friends or students. Here are three randomly selected questions from a larger exercise, which can be edited, printed to create an exercise worksheet, or sent via email to friends or students.





The wordsandsound similar, but their meanings are very different.The verb means to obtain. It has the connotation of actively obtaining something (usually information). It can often be translated as to draw out, to extract, to obtain information, to deduce, or to construe.Examples:The adjective means illegal or contrary to accepted morality (i.e., naughty).Examples: