English Reference
noun

clarification

n.
US /ˌkɫɛɹəfəˈkeɪʃən/ UK /klˌæɹɪfɪkˈeɪʃən/ clar·i·fi·ca·tion UK spelling clarifications

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate Academic

    an explanation that makes something easier to understand.

    the act of making a statement or situation less confused and more comprehensible.

    Simple

    I asked the teacher for clarification because I didn't understand the homework instructions.

    In context

    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'.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate Formal

    a short note or comment added to a text to make it clearer.

    a supplemental piece of information intended to disambiguate a previously published statement without changing its core meaning.

    Simple

    The newspaper published a clarification about the dates mentioned in yesterday's article.

    In context

    The editor issued a formal clarification regarding the source of the statistics, noting that the original data had been rounded for brevity.

  3. 03 C1 Advanced Technical Science

    the process of making a liquid clear by removing dirt or other bits.

    the process of making a liquid transparent by separating out insoluble particles or impurities.

    Simple

    The clarification of the water took several hours using the new filter system.

    In context

    In the final stage of the brewing process, clarification is essential to ensure the beverage meets the required standards of transparency and shelf-life.

Usage require clarification

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 Guardian· 17 Aug 2026

The spokesperson later provided clarifications and new references to the research ACCS had relied on, but this response too contained errors.

The Guardian· 17 Aug 2026

Borrowed from Middle French clarification, from Latin clārificātiō.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin clārificātiō
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated