clearance

American  

[kleer-uhns] / ˈklɪər əns /

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 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.

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clearance British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• nonclearance noun
• preclearance noun
• self-clearance noun

Etymology

Origin of clearance

First recorded in 1555–65; clear + -ance

Example Sentences

The chief Foreign Office official ousted over the decision to grant Peter Mandelson a security clearance despite vetting concerns is expected to face questions from MPs on Tuesday.

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026

“Setting aside the unusual FCC clearance process here, the Court does not find Defendants’ arguments persuasive,” Nunley wrote.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

On Thursday, it emerged that Mandelson had, in fact, failed his security clearance but was approved for the job anyway.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

It has emerged that Peter Mandelson was granted a security clearance by the Foreign Office against the recommendation of the government's vetting agency when he was made US ambassador.

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026

I wish that those Seenicruisers would be discontinued; it would seem to me that their height violates some interstate highway statute regarding clearance in tunnels and so forth.

From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole

Related Words

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