Elicit and illicit sound similar, but they mean very different things.
Elicit is a verb. It means to draw out information, feelings, or reactions from someone. You use it when something causes a response.
- The teacher asked a question to elicit discussion.
- The photo may elicit strong emotions.
Illicit is an adjective. It describes something illegal or forbidden by law or rules.
- Police investigated an illicit gambling operation.
- They were accused of illicit trade.
A simple way to remember the difference is this: if you can replace the word with bring out, you probably want elicit. If you can replace it with illegal, you want illicit.
So, you might elicit an answer in an interview, but you would never call that answer illicit unless it involved something unlawful.
