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

Lawmakers also strengthened a suspension clause that would allow the trading bloc to suspend the deal if the U.S. were to impose additional tariffs or threaten member states’ “territorial integrity.”

From Barron's

A "sunset clause" will see the agreement end by 31 March 2028.

From BBC

“Opening day, to me, is nothing about clauses in a contract,” Aitken said.

From Los Angeles Times

“We would be the ones with the final vote on any contract, and we need the right to reject unfair clauses,” she said.

From Salon

But to withstand legal challenges, legislators employed a unique Canadian invention, the controversial "notwithstanding clause".

From BBC

Related Words

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