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

Example Sentences

There is no recall clause in Geertruida's loan with Sunderland and anything that happens will be in agreement with Regis le Bris' side.

From BBC

Include reimbursement clauses in the event that your marriage is dissolved.

From MarketWatch

Sources say City will retain a 20% sell-on clause, as well as matching rights for any future bids received by the Cottagers.

From BBC

The reforms would scrap development agreements entirely and review stability clauses that shield investors from future policy changes, a move authorities say reflects Ghana's growing experience in managing the sector.

From Barron's

SAP said “large transformational deals” will have cloud revenue ramps in future years, and that termination clauses required by law weighed on cloud backlog growth by 1 percentage point.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

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