Legal Definitions - tacit

Definition: Tacit (tas-it) means something that is implied but not actually expressed. It can be understood through silence or silent agreement. It can also refer to something that is created by law without being explicitly stated.

Examples:

• When Sarah asked her boss if she could leave work early, he didn't say yes, but he didn't say no either. His silence was a tacit agreement that she could go.
• In Louisiana, a tacit mortgage is a type of mortgage that is created by law without the need for a written agreement.

The first example illustrates how tacit can be understood through silence. Sarah's boss didn't explicitly say she could leave early, but his lack of objection implied that it was okay. The second example shows how tacit can refer to something that is created by law without being explicitly stated. In Louisiana, a tacit mortgage is created automatically by law, even if there is no written agreement between the parties.