# solution

/səˈɫuʃən/ (US) · /səlˈuːʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/solution
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. solving a problem

noun · CEFR A2

a way of solving a problem or dealing with a difficult situation.

For teachers: a means of resolving a problem or addressing a challenging situation.

- The government is looking for a long-term solution to the housing crisis.
- The management team spent weeks debating a viable solution to the supply chain disruptions that had plagued the company all quarter.

Usage: Commonly followed by the preposition 'to'.

### 2. answer to a puzzle or math

noun · CEFR A2

the correct answer to a puzzle, test, or mathematical question.

For teachers: the result or explanation that answers a specific question, puzzle, or mathematical equation.

- I checked the back of the book to see the solution to the crossword.
- The professor demonstrated that the solution to the differential equation required a sophisticated understanding of calculus.

### 3. liquid mixture

noun · CEFR B1

a liquid in which something else has been dissolved.

For teachers: a homogeneous mixture composed of two or more substances, typically a solute dissolved in a solvent.

- You should clean the wound with a mild salt solution.
- The chemist prepared a saturated solution of copper sulfate to observe the growth of crystals over several days.

Usage: Often used with adjectives like 'dilute', 'concentrated', or 'aqueous'.

### 4. business product

noun · CEFR B2 · Academic

a product or service sold to a company to help them do business.

For teachers: a specific product, service, or integrated suite of software designed to meet a business requirement.

- Our company provides software solutions for small businesses.
- The consultant proposed an end-to-end digital solution to streamline the firm's accounting and payroll processes.

Teaching tip: This sense is very common in corporate marketing and IT, often used as a more impressive word for 'product'.

## Examples

- We need to find a solution to this problem.
- The team brainstormed for hours before finally agreeing on a practical solution to the software bug.
- While the proposed treaty offered a temporary solution to the border dispute, diplomats warned that underlying economic tensions would require a more comprehensive settlement.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.