clarification

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable or uncountable

   Extra information or a fuller explanation that removes doubt or confusion about something unclear.

   Grammar: Uncountable when general (seek clarification) and countable when a specific statement is meant (issue a clarification).

   Patterns

   • clarification of something
   • clarification on something
   • ask for clarification

   The students asked for clarification of the deadline.

   The company issued a clarification after the confusing announcement.

   I need some clarification on what the contract says about refunds.

2. 2noununcountabletechnical

   The process of making a liquid, such as butter, wine or juice, clear by removing solid particles.

   Grammar: Uncountable and fairly technical: the clarification of butter.

   Patterns

   • clarification of something

   The clarification of butter removes the milk solids.

   Clarification of the wine took several weeks.

   Filtering is one method of juice clarification.

Word forms

Common combinations

seek clarification

If you are unsure, seek clarification before you sign.

ask for clarification

She asked for clarification about the new schedule.

request clarification

The judge requested clarification of the witness's statement.

provide clarification

The manager provided clarification on the rules.

need clarification

We still need clarification on who is responsible.

for clarification

For clarification, the meeting is on Tuesday, not Monday.

Synonyms and how they differ

explanation

Explanation is any account of why or how something is, while clarification specifically fixes something that was unclear.

elucidation

Elucidation is a formal, literary word for making something complex clear, and sounds heavier than clarification.

clearing up

Clearing up is the casual spoken equivalent and is less suited to written, official contexts.

correction

A correction replaces something wrong, whereas a clarification only explains something that could be misunderstood.

Opposites

Word family

clarify verb

to make something clearer

clarity noun

the quality of being clear

clear adjective

easy to understand or see through

clarificatory adjective

serving to explain something

Commonly confused: clarification or clarity? clarification or classification?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “clarification”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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