ENGLISH
REFERENCE

clause

n. countable
B1 Intermediate Oxford US //ˈkɫɔz// UK //klˈɔːz// clause Academic General-service

n. a group of words that contains a subject and a verb. In business or law, it also means a specific rule or section written into a contract.

n. a structural unit of language consisting of a subject and a predicate, functioning either as a complete sentence or as part of one. In legal contexts, it designates a distinct article or provision within a formal document.


SIMPLE

The contract includes a clause about working from home.

CONTEXTUAL

When you add a dependent clause to the beginning of a sentence, you usually need to follow it with a comma.

COMPLEX

The union representatives refused to sign the revised agreement until management removed the penalty clause targeting workers who participated in unofficial strikes.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English clause, claus, borrowed from Old French clause, from Medieval Latin clausa (Latin diminutive clausula (“close, end; a clause, close of a period”)), from Latin clausus, past participle of claudere (“to shut, close”). See close, its doublet.

Usage

Commonly modified by grammatical terms like 'main' or 'subordinate', or legal terms like 'penalty' or 'confidentiality'.

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