Word
clarification
Phoneticsclar·i·fi·ca·tion, stress on the fourth syllable
US/ˌkɫɛɹəfəˈkeɪʃən/
UK/klˌæɹɪfɪkˈeɪʃən/
Definitions
01an explanation
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Academic
n. an explanation that makes something easier to understand.
n. the act of making a statement or situation less confused and more comprehensible.
“I asked the teacher for clarification because I didn't understand the homework instructions.”
“The legal team requested further clarification on the third clause of the contract to ensure no misinterpretation could occur during the trial.”
Usage
Often used with the verbs 'seek', 'provide', or 'request'.
Synonyms
02a clarifying comment
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Formal
n. a short note or comment added to a text to make it clearer.
n. a supplemental piece of information intended to disambiguate a previously published statement without changing its core meaning.
“The newspaper published a clarification about the dates mentioned in yesterday's article.”
“The editor issued a formal clarification regarding the source of the statistics, noting that the original data had been rounded for brevity.”
Synonyms
03removing impurities
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Science Technical
n. the process of making a liquid clear by removing dirt or other bits.
n. the process of making a liquid transparent by separating out insoluble particles or impurities.
“The clarification of the water took several hours using the new filter system.”
“In the final stage of the brewing process, clarification is essential to ensure the beverage meets the required standards of transparency and shelf-life.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “clarification” in context.
Verb
01. require clarification
“Several points in the new contract are quite vague and require clarification before we sign.”
verb + noun
Real-World Examples
“State pensions, spending on which this year is expected to reach £180bn, would be entirely insulated from cuts and similar protections would be in place for what it called, without clarification, the “severely disabled”.” “The spokesperson later provided clarifications and new references to the research ACCS had relied on, but this response too contained errors.” Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French clarification, from Latin clārificātiō.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/clarification