Elicit vs. Illicit: Drawing Out vs. Breaking Rules

The Distinction

• Elicit = to draw out, evoke, or extract (verb)
• Illicit = illegal or forbidden (adjective)

They sound similar but have completely different meanings and uses.

Elicit: Getting a Response

Use “elicit” when you’re drawing something out of someone:

• “The question elicited a surprising answer.” ✓
• “Her speech elicited applause.” ✓
• “The comedian couldn’t elicit a single laugh.” ✓
• “We tried to elicit more information.” ✓

You elicit responses, reactions, emotions, or information.

Illicit: Against the Rules

Use “illicit” for anything illegal, forbidden, or improper:

• “Illicit drugs were seized.” ✓
• “An illicit affair” ✓
• “Illicit trade in endangered species” ✓
• “The funds came from illicit activities.” ✓

Key Difference: Verb vs. Adjective

• Elicit is always a verb (an action word)
• Illicit is always an adjective (describes a noun)

You can’t “illicit” something. You can’t have “elicit drugs.”

The Pronunciation Difference

• Elicit: ee-LI-sit (starts with a long E)
• Illicit: ih-LI-sit (starts with a short I)

In practice, many people pronounce them identically, which causes confusion.

Memory Tricks

• Elicit = Evoke, Extract (draw out)
• Illicit = Illegal (against the law)

Or: Illicit has “ill” in it—something bad/wrong.

Quick Test

Is it a verb (action)? → elicit Is it an adjective (describing something forbidden)? → illicit

“The investigation _____ new evidence.” → Drew out (verb) → elicited

“They discovered _____ substances.” → Illegal (adjective) → illicit

Common Pairings

Elicit (draw out)	Illicit (illegal)
Elicit a response	Illicit drugs
Elicit information	Illicit activities
Elicit emotions	Illicit affair
Elicit support	Illicit trade

Watch Out

A common error: “The police found elicit drugs.” Wrong. Drugs aren’t “drawn out”—they’re illegal. Correct: “The police found illicit drugs.”

Remember

• Elicit = extract or evoke (verb—doing something)
• Illicit = illegal or forbidden (adjective—describing something)