Meaning & use
clearinghouse
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Meanings
nouncountable
An organization that collects and distributes information or resources on a particular subject.
Grammar: Countable noun; use a/an or plural -s. Often followed by for: a clearinghouse for data.
Patterns
- a clearinghouse for something
- act as a clearinghouse
The website serves as a clearinghouse for job openings in the tech industry.
The university is a clearinghouse for research on climate change.
They set up a clearinghouse to share best practices among teachers.
nouncountablefinancebusiness
A financial institution that settles transactions between banks or traders, especially in derivatives and securities.
Grammar: Countable noun; often used in finance contexts. Usually preceded by a/the.
Patterns
- central clearinghouse
- clearinghouse for trades
The clearinghouse guarantees that both parties fulfill their obligations.
After the trade, the clearinghouse steps in to settle the payment.
New regulations require all swaps to go through a clearinghouse.
Word forms
| plural | clearinghouses |
|---|
Common combinations
- act as a clearinghouse
- The agency acts as a clearinghouse for complaints from consumers.
- central clearinghouse
- The central clearinghouse reduces risk in the financial system.
- clearinghouse for information
- The library is a clearinghouse for information about local history.
- clearinghouse services
- The bank offers clearinghouse services to smaller institutions.
Synonyms and how they differ
- repository
- A repository is a place where things are stored, often data or documents; a clearinghouse focuses more on collecting and distributing.
- exchange
- An exchange is a marketplace where things are traded; a clearinghouse handles the settlement after the trade.
Commonly confused: clearinghouse or clearing house?
clearinghouse vs clearing house
Clearing house (two words) is an alternative spelling, but the one-word form is more common in modern usage, especially in finance.
Practice
The new online platform acts as a ______ for freelance writers, connecting them with clients.
Choose one answer.
Clearinghouse fits because it means an organization that collects and distributes information or resources. Clearance means the act of removing obstacles or getting permission. Clearing is an open space in a forest. Clearhouse is not a word.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “clearinghouse”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.