clarification

[ klar-uh-fuh-key-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act or an instance of making an idea or statement clear:

   You may use a pencil to circle words, passages, or phrases that you don't understand or that need clarification.

2. the removal of solid matter from a liquid so that it is clear or translucent:

   The clarification of butter involves first melting it and then getting rid of all milk solids, leaving behind pure saturated fat.

Other Words From

• non·clar·if·i·ca·tion noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of clarification¹

First recorded in 1570–80, for an earlier sense; from Latin clārificātiōn-, stem of clārificātiō “a making clear,” from clārificāre “to make clear”; clarify ( def ), -fication ( def )

Example Sentences

The public health agency also provided further clarification on what it means by celebrating only with members of your own household.

From Popular-Science

This leaves her to wonder if the clarification is worth the effort.

From Washington Post

On the bright side, Page’s clarification of the problem paved the way to a solution.

From Quanta Magazine

The latest clarifications once again emphasize that contextual targeting is likely to play a larger role in marketers’ mobile app advertising strategies.

From Digiday

The majority of comments engaged with the content itself, asking questions, clarifications or counter-arguments.

From Digiday

They did not respond to multiple requests for clarification.

From The Daily Beast

Shapiro has not responded to my request for clarification on his comment.

From The Daily Beast

Clarification: in a country with vile, daily crimes against women it is wrong for privileged women to file trivial cases.

From The Daily Beast

The matter requires clarification because the victims are the thousands of people who believed they could have a cure.

From The Daily Beast

The Daily Beast reached out to Feliciano for clarification about his "ambiguously gay" statement.

From The Daily Beast

A call was made to the resident station, requesting clarification of the request, and the answer proved to be unsatisfactory.

From Project Gutenberg

Thoughts which had struggled for clarification in my own deliberate mind started up.

From Project Gutenberg

The clarification of the conception of the trade agreement was perhaps the main achievement of the nineties.

From Project Gutenberg

The previous decade had counted steadily for inward clarification, for health and for confidence.

From Project Gutenberg

It may well be doubted if absolute clarification of the record is ever to be possible.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• description
• interpretation
• resolution
• simplification