1830–40; named after Duke of Clarence (1765–1837), later William IV
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It was a clarence, with dark subdued-looking panels, only ornamented by a vermilion crest.
From Henry Dunbar A Novel by Braddon, M. E. (Mary Elizabeth)
The emigrants started per coach, while our party drove up in a new clarence which I had brought from England.
From Eight Years' Wanderings in Ceylon by Baker, Samuel White, Sir
But Woolsey humbly said he was not a riding man, and gladly consented to take a place in the clarence carriage, provided he was allowed to bear half the expenses of the entertainment.
From Men's Wives by Thackeray, William Makepeace
The bugle had by this time arrived quite close to the clarence carriage, and if Morgiana had looked round she might have seen whence the music came.
From Men's Wives by Thackeray, William Makepeace
Mrs. William Hoboken haz had her clarence nuly painted.
From The Complete Works of Josh Billings by Shaw, Henry W.
Justices Clarence Thomas and Alito wrote long dissents arguing that the framers of the 14th Amendment did not or would not have favored birthright citizenship.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 12, 2026
Shugerman: Let’s give partial credit to Justices Clarence Thomas and Amy Coney Barrett, who get the history spectacularly wrong in Slaughter but have the goods on this.
From Slate ● Jul. 6, 2026
Another, Justice Clarence Thomas, sat next to Breyer for more than a decade.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 28, 2026
Last September, Prince Harry had tea with his father at Clarence House, which was their first face-to-face meeting since February 2024.
From BBC ● Jun. 27, 2026
“Well, Clarence, don’t worry. We’re leaving. But kindly inform Mr. Lemoncello that we shall return.”
From "Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics" by Chris Grabenstein
Suffice it, there they all were to criticise us, and pretty sharply I dare say they did it, when they were out of our hearing, in their respective clarences, broughams, dog-carts, drags, tilburies, and hansoms.
From Beatrice Boville and Other Stories by Ouida
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
