clause

American  

[klawz] / klɔz /

noun

clauses plural

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

Derived Forms

• subclause
  noun
• clausal
  adjective
• subclausal
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• clauses
  plural

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

This drafting quirk, far more than just a fun fact for grammar nerds or English teachers nationwide, is seen as proof that a narrow reading of the spending clause is most appropriate.

From Slate • Jun. 23, 2026

The first clause mentions Lebanon three times and commits the U.S. to ensuring its territorial integrity and sovereignty.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 18, 2026

Second, and most critically, are the cases’ tests of the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause, which protects against discrimination.

From Salon • Jun. 18, 2026

England head coach Thomas Tuchel's two-year contract extension is subject to a performance clause, Football Association chief executive Mark Bullingham has revealed.

From BBC • Jun. 16, 2026

The real decision is not whether to use that or which but whether to use a restrictive or a nonrestrictive relative clause.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

Related Words

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