Clearance Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/ˈklɪərəns/ 🔊

Part of Speech

Noun

Definition

The act of clearing or the state of being clear; authorization or permission to do something; the minimum height or distance required for an object to pass over or under something else.

Examples

• The pilot obtained clearance from air traffic control to land the plane.
• The store offered clearance on all winter clothing.

Synonyms

• Approval
• Permission
• Sale

Antonyms

• Denial
• Refusal
• Blockage

Additional Information

In aviation, clearance refers to the authorization given by air traffic control for an aircraft to proceed with a specific action, such as takeoff or landing. In retail, clearance refers to the sale of items at a discounted price, often to make room for new inventory. In general, clearance can refer to the removal of obstacles or the granting of permission to proceed with an activity.

In various fields, clearance can have different meanings. For example, in medicine, clearance refers to the removal of a substance from the body. In engineering, clearance refers to the minimum distance required between two objects or systems to ensure safe operation.

Etymology

The word “clearance” originated in the 14th century from the Old French word “clerer”, meaning “to clear” or “to purify”. It has since evolved to encompass various meanings across different fields.

Usage Notes

In formal writing, use “clearance” to refer to official permission or authorization. In informal writing, use “clearance” to refer to the sale of items at a discounted price.

Cultural References

The term “clearance” has been used in various films and TV shows, such as “Airplane!” and “The Office”, to refer to aviation clearance and office permissions, respectively.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

• Get clearance to
• Obtain clearance for
• Clearance sale

Related Words or Phrases

• Authorization
• Permission
• Approval
• Discount
• Sale

Collocations

• Clearance for takeoff
• Certificate of clearance
• Sale clearance

Frequency of Use

The word “clearance” is commonly used in formal and informal writing, with an average frequency of 0.05% in modern language.

Common Misspellings

• Clearnace
• Clearnce
• Clerance