explanation
Americannoun
-
the act or process of explaining.
- Synonyms:
- description, interpretation, exposition, explication, elucidation
-
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.
noun
-
the act or process of explaining
-
a statement or occurrence that explains
-
a clarification of disputed terms or points; reconciliation
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of explanation
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English explanacioun, from Latin explānātiōn-, stem of explānātiō, from explānāt(us) “made understandable” (past participle of explānāre “to smooth out, make understandable”) + -iō -ion; see explain
Explanation
An explanation is a statement about how or why something is the way it is. If you're failing math, you'd better come up with a good explanation to give to your parents. Explanation is from the same Latin word as explain: explanare, which means make clear. Because explanation and explain are so closely related, people often try to shoehorn an extra i into the spelling of explanation. Don't. You might think that explanation has the odd spelling, but it is really the more regular of the two because there is no i in explanare.
Vocabulary lists containing explanation
The Language of Standardized Tests, List 1
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PARCC: Language of the Test (Grade7)
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The SAT: Language of the Test, List 4
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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 gave no explanation for the events, but said in a general response that it was investigating claims of damage to property.
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026
But the prosecutor dismissed financial problems as an explanation for what had gone on.
From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026
One widely discussed explanation is that the intense pressure at greater depths would crush the air spaces used by insects for breathing.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 27, 2026
I’m sure the scientific explanation involves ecstatic brain hormones, leading to an overstimulated smile reflex.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026
I wasn’t going to accept his cowardly explanation in front of Mara without standing up for myself.
From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri
He says the theory offers "one of the best explanations" for the differences in how people seek support and connection with others.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
Even suggesting research into alternative sociological explanations is viewed as racist, morally wrong and victim blaming at best.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026
“Lineage met with regulators and offered the same explanations the community has already heard,” said Councilmember Ysabel Jurado in a statement.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
However, the recent display of the aircraft that brought Zambada to the United States as part of an FBI operations collection prompted Mexico to seek explanations.
From Barron's ● Jul. 20, 2026
Thomas, who generally avoids intellectualist explanations, falls back on this.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
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.
