in silentio

9.9

Used when a decision or action is not said openly, often in law

idiom

Formal

: en silencio

The judge ruled in silentio, offering no written explanation for the verdict.

Examples

Some legal principles are established in silentio when courts do not address them directly.
The contract was renewed in silentio, as neither party objected or commented.
The decision was made in silentio.
They concluded the negotiations in silentio.
The judge ruled in silentio, offering no written explanation for the verdict.
Some legal principles are established in silentio when courts do not address them directly.
The contract was renewed in silentio, as neither party objected or commented.

Synonyms

silently

vsin silentio

129 1.2

In a quiet way without making any sound or speaking

is a legal phrase used when actions lack open or explicit statement

in silence

vsin silentio

87 2.1

Not speaking or making any sound

is a formal legal term for acts done without any explicit statement

mutely

vsin silentio

3 5.6

Without speaking or making any sound

refers to formal omission of any explicit statement rather than mere lack of sound

How Explicit

explicitly

146 3.9

openly

303 1.6

indirectly

78 4.2

in silentio

Formal

9.9

Surface Forms

in silentio main

Morphology

in + silentio

This is a Latin legal formula rather than a regular English composition: although 'in' is transparent, 'silentio' is a Latin form not found in ordinary English dictionaries and carries specialized legal usage. A B1 learner who knows English constituents would not reliably derive the legal sense from these parts without knowledge of Latin or prior exposure, so the phrase is opaque.

Etymology

In silentio is a Latin phrase that literally means 'in silence'. Imagine a judge or a meeting where people accept a choice but say nothing — the decision stands without being written or spoken, so the phrase now means 'without being openly stated'.