clearance
Americannoun
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clearances
plural
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the act of clearing.
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the distance between two objects; an amount of clear space.
The bridge allowed a clearance of 37 feet at mean high water.
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a formal authorization permitting access to classified information, documents, etc.
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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.
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a clear space; a clearing.
The house stood in a clearance among the trees.
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Banking. an exchange of checks and other commercial paper drawn on members of a clearinghouse, usually effected at a daily meeting of the members.
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Machinery. a space between two moving parts, left to avoid clashing or to permit relatively free motion.
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the angle between a face of a cutting tool, as a lathe tool, and the work.
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Nautical.
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the clearing of a ship at a port.
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Also called clearance papers. the official papers certifying this.
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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.
noun
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the process or an instance of clearing
slum clearance
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( as modifier )
a clearance order
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space between two parts in motion or in relative motion
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permission for an aircraft, ship, passengers, etc, to proceed
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official permission to have access to secret information, projects, areas, etc
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banking the exchange of commercial documents drawn on the members of a clearing house
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the disposal of merchandise at reduced prices
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( as modifier )
a clearance sale
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sport
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the act of hitting or kicking a ball out of the defensive area, as in football
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an instance of this
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the act of clearing an area of land of its inhabitants by mass eviction See Highland Clearances
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dentistry the extraction of all of a person's teeth
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a less common word for clearing
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
"It looked like a genuine opportunity," said Vharance Goodho, who borrowed money for police clearance certificates, medical examinations and other expenses.
From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026
VU researcher Dr. James Broatch led the analysis, which examined how exercise may influence the glymphatic system, a brain waste clearance pathway that is especially active during sleep.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 11, 2026
The superintendent, for example, was being blamed after the fact for actions that he carried out in public with the full knowledge of the school system and frequently with clearance from the district’s legal staff.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026
In 2018, Qualcomm terminated its proposed purchase of Dutch chip maker NXP Semiconductors after failing to obtain clearance from China.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
Fly stays inside me because we have not yet been given the clearance for him to fly.
From "A Rover's Story" by Jasmine Warga
For the first two decades, the firm specialised in managing probate house clearances, cessation of business asset disposals and private chattels.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026
Ellison and his team now have won clearances from 66 antitrust regulators, including the U.S.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026
Defensively, he consistently shows up as one of the best defenders in the league for his contributions, his tackling, clearances, blocking shots.
From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026
But the company now sees healthy demand for its services, including in national security for workers who need security clearances.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
It was taking months to process applications and security clearances.
From "Farewell to Manzanar" by Jeanne Houston
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
