definitions

explanation

[ ek-spluh-ney-shuhn ]
/ ˌɛk spləˈneɪ ʃən /
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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.

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RELATED WORDS

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

Nearby words

expiscate, explain, explain away, explain oneself, explanate, explanation, explanatory, explant, explement, explemental, explementary

Origin of explanation

1350–1400; Middle English explanacioun < Latin explānātiōn- (stem of explānātiō), equivalent to explānāt(us) (see explanate) + -iōn- -ion

Related forms

o·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