4 syllables: im, pli, ca, tion. Stress on ca.
im-pluh-KAY-shuhn
/ˌɪmpləˈkeɪʃən/
implication is pronounced im-pluh-KAY-shuhn (/ˌɪmpləˈkeɪʃən/). It has four syllables (im-pli-ca-tion), with the stress on "ca". A conclusion or suggestion that is not explicitly stated but can be inferred; it carries a logical consequence or effect of a statement or action. It often implies broader meaning or significance beyond the literal text, especially in reasoning or communication.
A conclusion or suggestion that is not explicitly stated but can be inferred; it carries a logical consequence or effect of a statement or action. It often implies broader meaning or significance beyond the literal text, especially in reasoning or communication.
- You might misplace primary stress on the first or second syllable; fix by practicing the rhythm im-PLI-ga-tion with stress on the 'keɪ' syllable. - The /pl/ cluster after /ɪm/ can be mispronounced as separate sounds or with an elongated vowel; keep it as /pl/ immediately after /ɪm/. - The final 'tion' may be reduced to /n/ or /ʃn/; retain /ʃən/ with a light schwa before /n/. Practice saying: im-PLI-ga-tion; emphasize crisp /ʃ/ and a relaxed final /ən/.”,
"The implication of his silence was that he disagreed with the proposal."
"Her email carried the implication that the project would miss the deadline if not funded."
"The study found no direct link, but the implication is that further research is warranted."
Say it as /ˌɪm.plɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/ in US and UK, with the main stress on the third syllable (keɪ). Start with a light, unstressed 'im' then 'plɪ' and a clear 'keɪ' before the final 'ʃən' syllable; keep the /ʃ/ sound crisp. For example: im-PLI-ga-tion with the primary beat on 'keɪ'. Audio references: consult Cambridge/Oxford pronunciations and native speaker samples on Forvo or YouGlish for natural carriers.
Common errors: (1) stressing the wrong syllable (placing primary stress on the first or second syllable instead of 'keɪ'), (2) mispronouncing the 'pl' cluster as /pl/ or inserting an extra vowel, (3) shortening the final syllable to /ən/ or /n/ without the schwa. Correction: place primary stress on the third syllable - keɪ, keep /pl/ as a single consonant cluster after /ɪm/, and pronounce the final /ʃən/ with a clear schwa before /n/ so it sounds like -ʃən.
In US English, /ˌɪm.plɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/ with a rhotic R only if followed by a vowel; the /ɪ/ in 'im' is lax. UK English keeps non-rhoticity and may slight vowel shortening; /ˌɪm.plɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/ with less rhotic coloring. Australian English is similar to UK but with more centralized vowels; /ˌɪm.plɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/ tends to have a clear /æ/ or /eɪ/ in the 'keɪ' syllable depending on speaker. The main differences are vowel quality and rhoticity, not the overall syllable structure.
Because of the multi-syllabic rhythm and the consonant cluster /pl/ after the initial vowel, many speakers misplace stress or insert an extra vowel. The key challenges are marking the secondary stress on the first two syllables, keeping the /ɪ/ in 'im' short and unstressed, and producing a crisp /ʃən/ at the end without devoicing the /ʃ/. Practice by isolating each part: im- (unstressed), -pli- (lightly stressed), -ca- (kick of stress on 'keɪ'), -tion (soft final).
The word carries a notable secondary stress pattern—while the primary stress lands on the third syllable, the preceding syllables remain relatively unstressed but must be clearly articulated to avoid slurring. Ensure the /ɪ/ in 'im' isn't reduced to a quick schwa, and keep the sequence /m/ + /pl/ tightly connected. This helps maintain the perceived word shape and prevents a flattened pronunciation that can obscure the intended meaning.
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- US: rhoticity is conditional; maintain /ɹ/ only before a vowel or if sliding into a following sound. Keep /ɪ/ in 'im' lax but not reduced; payday for the 'keɪ' syllable. - UK: non-rhotic to an extent; avoid adding an 'r' sound; maintain /ˈkeɪ/ with a crisp diphthong. - AU: similar to UK but often a slightly broader vowel, with a faint hint of /ɪ/ in 'im' and a more centralized vowel in the last syllable; keep all syllables balanced. Use IPA references and practice with varied accents if you want to blend for multi-regional contexts.
Implication comes from the Latin word implicare, meaning to fold in or entwine, from in- (in) + plicare (to fold). The verb implicate shares the same root. In English, implication emerged in the 16th–17th centuries as a noun form referring to something implied or suggested by what is stated or done, rather than explicitly stated. The sense broadened to include the logical consequence or result inferred from a set of facts, statements, or actions. Etymologically, the sense shift reflects a move from concrete folding or entwining to figurative folding of meaning—what is folded into a statement as an unspoken consequence. Early uses often framed implication in logical, rhetorical, or legal contexts, then it migrated into everyday discourse as a general term for inferred consequences or meanings that accompany a claim. First known uses appear in philosophical and legal writings where subtlety of meaning and intent mattered, evolving into modern usage seen in analysis, media, and academic writing.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "implication" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "implication" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "implication"
-ion sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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