clearance

[kleer-uhns]

noun

1. the act of clearing.

2. the distance between two objects; an amount of clear space.

   The bridge allowed a clearance of 37 feet at mean high water.

3. a formal authorization permitting access to classified information, documents, etc.

4. Also called clearance sale. the disposal of merchandise at reduced prices to make room for new goods.

   He bought the coat for half price at a clearance.

5. a clear space; a clearing.

   The house stood in a clearance among the trees.

6. Banking.,  an exchange of checks and other commercial paper drawn on members of a clearinghouse, usually effected at a daily meeting of the members.

7. Machinery.,  a space between two moving parts, left to avoid clashing or to permit relatively free motion.

8. the angle between a face of a cutting tool, as a lathe tool, and the work.

9. Nautical.

   1. the clearing clearing of a ship at a port.

   2. Also called clearance papers. the official papers certifying this.

10. Medicine/Medical.,  a test of the excretory function of the kidneys based on the volume of blood that is cleared of a specific substance per minute by renal excretion.

clearance

/ ˈklɪərəns /

noun

1. 1. the process or an instance of clearing

      slum clearance

   2. ( as modifier )

      a clearance order

2. space between two parts in motion or in relative motion

3. permission for an aircraft, ship, passengers, etc, to proceed

4. official permission to have access to secret information, projects, areas, etc

5. banking the exchange of commercial documents drawn on the members of a clearing house

6. 1. the disposal of merchandise at reduced prices

   2. ( as modifier )

      a clearance sale

7. sport

   1. the act of hitting or kicking a ball out of the defensive area, as in football

   2. an instance of this

8. the act of clearing an area of land of its inhabitants by mass eviction See Highland Clearances

9. dentistry the extraction of all of a person's teeth

10. a less common word for clearing

Other Word Forms

• nonclearance noun
• preclearance noun
• self-clearance noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of clearance¹

First recorded in 1555–65; clear + -ance

Example Sentences

One of those counterproductive policies was slum clearance, which paved the way for public housing.

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Some Eswatini MPs had previously raised concerns about the deal in parliament, but Prime Minister Russell Dlamini said it had been handled at "top clearance level".

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They lead the way on long passes and clearances too.

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Another defensive mess in the second half resulted in Dane Murray's attempted clearance ricocheting off Gabri Martinez and into the back of the net.

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That deal would require sign-off from the government, in the form of clearance from competition regulators.

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Related Words

• approval 
• authorization 
• consent 
• go ahead 
• green light