Dictionary.com
definitions

explanation

[ ek-spluh-ney-shuhn ]
/ ˌɛk spləˈneɪ ʃən /
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR explanation ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act or process of explaining.
something that explains; a statement made to clarify something and make it understandable; exposition: an explanation of a poem.
a meaning or interpretation: to find an explanation for a mystery.
a mutual declaration of the meaning of words spoken, actions, motives, etc., with a view to adjusting a misunderstanding or reconciling differences: After a long and emotional explanation they were friends again.

RELATED CONTENT

How To Use ColonsColons are used to introduce lists, quotes, or further explanation. They’re also used to separate items in non-grammatical structures. Introducing a List A colon can be used to introduce a list. In general, the portion of sentence before the colon should be a complete sentence (it should contain a subject and a verb). Phrases like the following may sometimes be used to signal an introduction …
READ MORE
Old School Latin Phrases We’re Still Using In Everyday EnglishThese may be phrases you throw out all the time in casual conversation ... but are you using the correctly? Find out what they really mean.
READ MORE

RELATED WORDS

comment, interpretation, confession, evidence, motive, sense, information, story, note, statement, answer, commentary, cause, justification, description, excuse, meaning, report, definition, account

Nearby words

  1. expiscate,
  2. explain,
  3. explain away,
  4. explain oneself,
  5. explanate,
  6. explanatory,
  7. explant,
  8. explement,
  9. explemental,
  10. explementary

Origin of explanation

1350–1400; Middle English explanacioun < Latin explānātiōn- (stem of explānātiō), equivalent to explānāt(us) (see explanate) + -iōn- -ion
Related formso·ver·ex·pla·na·tion, nounpre·ex·pla·na·tion, nounre·ex·pla·na·tion, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for explanation

British Dictionary definitions for explanation

explanation

/ (ˌɛkspləˈneɪʃən) /

noun

the act or process of explaining
a statement or occurrence that explains
a clarification of disputed terms or points; reconciliation
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for explanation

explanation

n.

late 14c., from Latin explanationem (nominative explanatio), noun of action from past participle stem of explanare "to make plain or clear, explain," literally "make level, flatten," from ex- "out" (see ex-) + planus "flat" (see plane (n.1)).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper