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.
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
“Why, I never was in a carriage in all my life,” said Sweetie, as he lifted her into his beautiful clarence, and sat down beside her.
From Happy Days for Boys and Girls by Various
Mrs. William Hoboken haz had her clarence nuly painted.
From The Complete Works of Josh Billings by Shaw, Henry W.
The ladies gladly made room for him in the clarence.
From Men's Wives by Thackeray, William Makepeace
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)
Gwent Police said they were supported by the National Police Air Service, with a "short pursuit" leading to his arrest near Clarence Place.
From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026
He is last understood to have met Charles, who is being treated for an undisclosed form of cancer, at the monarch's London residence Clarence House in September 2025.
From Barron's ● Jul. 7, 2026
The three decisions came over fierce dissents from conservative Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel A. Alito Jr. and with Neil M. Gorsuch in two of them.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2026
And except for a single mention at the top of each opinion, Justice Clarence Thomas’ and Kavanaugh’s respective majority writings even use different shorthand names for the law.
From Slate ● Jul. 1, 2026
Imagine yourself handing in lab reports that get Clarence rocking his little wooden hooves off, and you have it.
From "Okay for Now" by Gary D. Schmidt
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.
