clause

American  

[klawz] / klɔz /

noun

1. Grammar. a syntactic construction containing a subject and predicate and forming part of a sentence or constituting a whole simple sentence.

2. a distinct article or provision in a contract, treaty, will, or other formal or legal written document.

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clause British  

/ klɔːz /

noun

1. grammar a group of words, consisting of a subject and a predicate including a finite verb, that does not necessarily constitute a sentence See also main clause subordinate clause coordinate clause

2. a section of a legal document such as a contract, will, or draft statute

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clause Cultural  

1. A group of words in a sentence that contains a subject and predicate. (See dependent clause and independent clause.)

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Other Word Forms

• clausal
  adjective
• subclausal
  adjective
• subclause
  noun

Etymology

Origin of clause

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English claus(e), from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin clausa, back formation from Latin clausula clausula

Explanation

A clause is a group of words with a subject and verb. That kind of clause is handy when talking about grammar. Another kind of clause is a provision or stipulation in a legal contract. Clause is a noun that comes from the old French clause, which, if we trace it way back, comes from the Latin clausula, “the end, a closing termination.” Around 1300, the “ending” implication of the word began to fade and was replaced by “article or section of a text.” In the grammatical sense, every sentence must have at least one independent clause. And in the legal sense, documents like prenuptial agreements or job contract often contain clauses.

Example Sentences

The city’s firefighters had a “me too” clause in their contract requiring that they receive the same types of increases as cops.

From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2026

Both sides are not comfortable talking about a supposed break clause in Shankland's Hearts contract that would allow him to leave for nothing, a scenario that would, no doubt, infuriate Hearts fans even further.

From BBC • May 24, 2026

One bone of contention is a suspension clause toughened by parliament that would scrap favourable tariff conditions for US exporters, should the United States later breach the terms of the deal.

From Barron's • May 19, 2026

Section 1 of the 22nd Amendment, which sets presidential term limits, has a similar grandfather clause.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 17, 2026

Fortunately for Welles and Houseman, their lawyer had added a clause to their CBS contract ensuring that they and the Mercury would not be liable for their show’s content.

From "Spooked!" by Gail Jarrow

Related Words

• article
• paragraph
• passage
• provision
• requirement
• section
• specification
• stipulation