noun · 18 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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General-American:/ˈklɪɚ.əns/
General-American:[ˈkhlɪɚ.əns] ~ [ˈkhlɪɹ̩.n̩s]
CMU ARPABET:K L IH1 R AH0 N S
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
The act of clearing or something (such as a space) cleared.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
The distance between two moving objects, especially between parts of a machine
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
The height or width of a tunnel, bridge or other passage, or the distance between a vehicle and the walls or roof of such passage; a gap, headroom.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
Clearance on these freeway overpasses is limited, so big trucks must detour.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
A permission for a vehicle to proceed, or for a person to travel.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
The plane got clearance from air traffic control, and we were off.
He got clearance to travel to America, even though he had previous links to terrorists.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
A permission to have access to sensitive or secret documents or other information.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
A permission to use something, usually intellectual property, that is legally, but not otherwise, protected.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
noun
Meaning 7
A sale of merchandise, especially at significantly reduced prices, usually in order to make room for new merchandise or updated versions of the same merchandise; sometimes as a closeout.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: business, commerce, retail
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
noun
Meaning 8
The settlement of transactions involving securities or means of payment such as checks by means of a clearing house.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: banking, business, finance
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
9
noun
Meaning 9
The removal of harmful substances from the blood; renal clearance.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: medicine, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
10
noun
Meaning 10
The act of potting all the remaining balls on a table at one visit.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: ball-games, billiards, games, hobbies, lifestyle, pool, snooker, sports
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
11
noun
Meaning 11
The act of kicking a ball away from the goal one is defending.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: clearing
Antonyms: none provided
12
noun
Meaning 12
Removal of pieces from a rank, file or diagonal so that a bishop, rook or queen is free to move along it.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: board-games, chess, games
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
13
noun
Meaning 13
Clear or net profit.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
14
noun
Meaning 14
The first disposal in a chain that leaves the area of a stoppage, or a disposal that leaves the area of a stoppage itself.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Qualifier: Australian rules football
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
15
noun
Meaning 15
The act of leaving the area of a stoppage.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Qualifier: Australian rules football
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
16
noun
Meaning 16
permission to proceed
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
the plane was given clearance to land
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: license, permission, permit
17
noun
Meaning 17
the distance by which one thing clears another; the space between them
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: interval, separation
18
noun
Meaning 18
vertical space available to allow easy passage under something
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: headroom, headway
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: room, way, elbow room
History
Etymology
Etymology tree English clear Proto-Indo-European *-(i)yós Proto-Italic *-ijos Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Latin -ius Latin -iader. Old French -ancebor. Middle English -aunce English -ance English clearance From clear + -ance.
Across languages
Translations
177 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
разчистване
(razčistvane)
— act of clearing or something cleared
Finnish:
raivaus
— act of clearing or something cleared
Finnish:
tyhjennys
— act of clearing or something cleared
Finnish:
raivio
— act of clearing or something cleared
French:
évacuation
— act of clearing or something cleared
French:
vidage
— act of clearing or something cleared
German:
Ausräumung
— act of clearing or something cleared
German:
Leerung
— act of clearing or something cleared
German:
Rodung
— act of clearing or something cleared
German:
Roden
— act of clearing or something cleared
Hungarian:
megtisztítás
— act of clearing or something cleared
Hungarian:
szabaddá tétel
— act of clearing or something cleared
Italian:
sgombero
— act of clearing or something cleared
Italian:
repulisti
— act of clearing or something cleared
Italian:
piazza pulita
— act of clearing or something cleared
Macedonian:
расчисту́вање
(rasčistúvanje)
— act of clearing or something cleared
Polish:
oczyszczanie
— act of clearing or something cleared
Polish:
usuwanie
— act of clearing or something cleared
Portuguese:
limpa
— act of clearing or something cleared
Russian:
очи́стка
(očístka)
— act of clearing or something cleared
Russian:
расчи́стка
(rasčístka)
— act of clearing or something cleared
Spanish:
despeje
— act of clearing or something cleared
Spanish:
despejo
— act of clearing or something cleared
Spanish:
desobstrucción
— act of clearing or something cleared
Bulgarian:
луфт
(luft)
— distance between two moving objects
Finnish:
välys
— distance between two moving objects
Finnish:
varoetäisyys
— distance between two moving objects
Finnish:
etäisyys
— distance between two moving objects
Finnish:
pelivara
— distance between two moving objects
French:
tolérance
— distance between two moving objects
French:
intervalle
— distance between two moving objects
French:
espace
— distance between two moving objects
German:
Spiel
— distance between two moving objects
Hungarian:
térköz
— distance between two moving objects
Italian:
luce
— distance between two moving objects
Italian:
spazio
— distance between two moving objects
Italian:
divario
— distance between two moving objects
Italian:
gioco
— distance between two moving objects
Italian:
intervallo
— distance between two moving objects
Macedonian:
луфт
(luft)
— distance between two moving objects
Polish:
odstęp
— distance between two moving objects
Polish:
prześwit
— distance between two moving objects
Portuguese:
folga
— distance between two moving objects
Russian:
зазо́р
(zazór)
— distance between two moving objects
Russian:
люфт
(ljuft)
— distance between two moving objects
Russian:
просве́т
(prosvét)
— distance between two moving objects
Spanish:
claro
— distance between two moving objects
Spanish:
holgura
— distance between two moving objects
Spanish:
huelgo
— distance between two moving objects
Spanish:
anchura
— distance between two moving objects
Finnish:
vapaa korkeus
— height or width of a passage, or the distance between a vehicle and the walls or roof of such passage
Finnish:
vapaa leveys
— height or width of a passage, or the distance between a vehicle and the walls or roof of such passage
Finnish:
pelivara
— height or width of a passage, or the distance between a vehicle and the walls or roof of such passage
French:
gabarit
— height or width of a passage, or the distance between a vehicle and the walls or roof of such passage
French:
espace
— height or width of a passage, or the distance between a vehicle and the walls or roof of such passage
Hungarian:
térköz
— height or width of a passage, or the distance between a vehicle and the walls or roof of such passage
Hungarian:
tér
— height or width of a passage, or the distance between a vehicle and the walls or roof of such passage
Hungarian:
hézag
— height or width of a passage, or the distance between a vehicle and the walls or roof of such passage
Italian:
luce
— height or width of a passage, or the distance between a vehicle and the walls or roof of such passage
Italian:
spazio
— height or width of a passage, or the distance between a vehicle and the walls or roof of such passage
Portuguese:
espaço
— height or width of a passage, or the distance between a vehicle and the walls or roof of such passage
Spanish:
claro
— height or width of a passage, or the distance between a vehicle and the walls or roof of such passage
Spanish:
holgura
— height or width of a passage, or the distance between a vehicle and the walls or roof of such passage
Spanish:
huelgo
— height or width of a passage, or the distance between a vehicle and the walls or roof of such passage
Spanish:
anchura
— height or width of a passage, or the distance between a vehicle and the walls or roof of such passage
Swedish:
frihöjd
— height or width of a passage, or the distance between a vehicle and the walls or roof of such passage
Finnish:
lupa
— permission for a vehicle to proceed, or for a person to travel
Finnish:
kulkulupa
— permission for a vehicle to proceed, or for a person to travel
Finnish:
matkustuslupa
— permission for a vehicle to proceed, or for a person to travel
French:
autorisation
— permission for a vehicle to proceed, or for a person to travel
French:
feu vert
— permission for a vehicle to proceed, or for a person to travel
French:
permission
— permission for a vehicle to proceed, or for a person to travel
French:
clairance
— permission for a vehicle to proceed, or for a person to travel
German:
Freigabe
— permission for a vehicle to proceed, or for a person to travel
German:
Erlaubnis
— permission for a vehicle to proceed, or for a person to travel
Hungarian:
engedély
— permission for a vehicle to proceed, or for a person to travel
Italian:
via libera
— permission for a vehicle to proceed, or for a person to travel
Italian:
autorizzazione
— permission for a vehicle to proceed, or for a person to travel
Italian:
permesso
— permission for a vehicle to proceed, or for a person to travel
Macedonian:
до́звола
(dózvola)
— permission for a vehicle to proceed, or for a person to travel
Macedonian:
ви́за
(víza)
— permission for a vehicle to proceed, or for a person to travel
Polish:
wiza
— permission for a vehicle to proceed, or for a person to travel
Polish:
zezwolenie
— permission for a vehicle to proceed, or for a person to travel
Polish:
pozwolenie
— permission for a vehicle to proceed, or for a person to travel
Polish:
zgoda
— permission for a vehicle to proceed, or for a person to travel
Portuguese:
autorização (de partida/viagem/etc.)
— permission for a vehicle to proceed, or for a person to travel
Russian:
разрешение
(razrešenije)
— permission for a vehicle to proceed, or for a person to travel
Russian:
виза
(viza)
— permission for a vehicle to proceed, or for a person to travel
Spanish:
beneplácito
— permission for a vehicle to proceed, or for a person to travel
Spanish:
níhil óbstat
— permission for a vehicle to proceed, or for a person to travel
Dutch:
vergunning
— permission to have access to sensitive or secret documents or other information
Finnish:
lupa
— permission to have access to sensitive or secret documents or other information
Finnish:
valtuutus
— permission to have access to sensitive or secret documents or other information
French:
accès
— permission to have access to sensitive or secret documents or other information
French:
autorisation
— permission to have access to sensitive or secret documents or other information
German:
Freigabe
— permission to have access to sensitive or secret documents or other information
Hungarian:
jogosultság
— permission to have access to sensitive or secret documents or other information
Hungarian:
hozzáférés
— permission to have access to sensitive or secret documents or other information
Italian:
accesso
— permission to have access to sensitive or secret documents or other information
Italian:
via libera
— permission to have access to sensitive or secret documents or other information
Italian:
autorizzazione
— permission to have access to sensitive or secret documents or other information
Macedonian:
до́звола
(dózvola)
— permission to have access to sensitive or secret documents or other information
Polish:
pozwolenie
— permission to have access to sensitive or secret documents or other information
Polish:
zezwolenie
— permission to have access to sensitive or secret documents or other information
Polish:
zgoda
— permission to have access to sensitive or secret documents or other information
Portuguese:
autorização
— permission to have access to sensitive or secret documents or other information
Russian:
разреше́ние
(razrešénije)
— permission to have access to sensitive or secret documents or other information
Russian:
ви́за
(víza)
— permission to have access to sensitive or secret documents or other information
Spanish:
beneplácito
— permission to have access to sensitive or secret documents or other information
Spanish:
níhil óbstat
— permission to have access to sensitive or secret documents or other information
Bulgarian:
разпродажба
(razprodažba)
— sale of merchandise at a reduced price
Chinese Mandarin:
清倉 /清仓
(qīngcāng)
— sale of merchandise at a reduced price
Finnish:
tyhjennysmyynti
— sale of merchandise at a reduced price
Finnish:
alennusmyynti
— sale of merchandise at a reduced price
French:
braderie
— sale of merchandise at a reduced price
French:
liquidation
— sale of merchandise at a reduced price
French:
soldes
— sale of merchandise at a reduced price
German:
Ausverkauf
— sale of merchandise at a reduced price
Haitian Creole:
likidasyon
— sale of merchandise at a reduced price
Hungarian:
kiárusítás
— sale of merchandise at a reduced price
Hungarian:
végkiárusítás
— sale of merchandise at a reduced price
Hungarian:
szezonvégi kiárusítás
— sale of merchandise at a reduced price
Hungarian:
készletkiárusítás
— sale of merchandise at a reduced price
Italian:
saldo
— sale of merchandise at a reduced price
Italian:
svendita
— sale of merchandise at a reduced price
Italian:
liquidazione
— sale of merchandise at a reduced price
Macedonian:
распро́дажба
(raspródažba)
— sale of merchandise at a reduced price
Manx:
ard-chreck
— sale of merchandise at a reduced price
Polish:
wyprzedaż
— sale of merchandise at a reduced price
Polish:
likwidacja
— sale of merchandise at a reduced price
Portuguese:
liquidação
— sale of merchandise at a reduced price
Russian:
распрода́жа
(rasprodáža)
— sale of merchandise at a reduced price
Russian:
ликвида́ция
(likvidácija)
— sale of merchandise at a reduced price
Spanish:
remate
— sale of merchandise at a reduced price
Spanish:
ganga
— sale of merchandise at a reduced price
Spanish:
oferta
— sale of merchandise at a reduced price
Spanish:
barata
— sale of merchandise at a reduced price
Swedish:
utförsäljning
— sale of merchandise at a reduced price
Welsh:
arwerthiant
— sale of merchandise at a reduced price
Bulgarian:
клиринг
(kliring)
— finance: processing of payments at a clearing house
Finnish:
selvitys
— finance: processing of payments at a clearing house
Hungarian:
elszámolás
— finance: processing of payments at a clearing house
Hungarian:
klíring
— finance: processing of payments at a clearing house
Italian:
compensazione
— finance: processing of payments at a clearing house
Macedonian:
кли́ринг
(klíring)
— finance: processing of payments at a clearing house
Polish:
clearing
— finance: processing of payments at a clearing house
Polish:
kliring
— finance: processing of payments at a clearing house
Portuguese:
compensação
— finance: processing of payments at a clearing house
Russian:
кли́ренс
(klírɛns)
— finance: processing of payments at a clearing house
Russian:
кли́ринг
(klíring)
— finance: processing of payments at a clearing house
Bulgarian:
пречистване
(prečistvane)
— medicine: removal of harmful substances from the blood
Finnish:
puhdistuma
— medicine: removal of harmful substances from the blood
French:
clairance
— medicine: removal of harmful substances from the blood
Hungarian:
tisztítás
— medicine: removal of harmful substances from the blood
Indonesian:
bersihan
— medicine: removal of harmful substances from the blood
Italian:
filtraggio
— medicine: removal of harmful substances from the blood
Italian:
clearance
— medicine: removal of harmful substances from the blood
Macedonian:
пречисту́вање
(prečistúvanje)
— medicine: removal of harmful substances from the blood
Portuguese:
clearance
— medicine: removal of harmful substances from the blood
Portuguese:
limpeza
— medicine: removal of harmful substances from the blood
Russian:
чи́стка
(čístka)
— medicine: removal of harmful substances from the blood
Russian:
очище́ние
(očiščénije)
— medicine: removal of harmful substances from the blood
Spanish:
despeje
— medicine: removal of harmful substances from the blood
Spanish:
limpieza
— medicine: removal of harmful substances from the blood
Spanish:
aclaramiento
— medicine: removal of harmful substances from the blood
Bulgarian:
разчистване
(razčistvane)
— billiards: act of potting all the remaining balls on a table at one visit
Finnish:
puhdistus
— billiards: act of potting all the remaining balls on a table at one visit
Spanish:
despeje
— billiards: act of potting all the remaining balls on a table at one visit
Bulgarian:
изчистване
(izčistvane)
— soccer: the act of kicking a ball away from the goal one is defending
Catalan:
rebuig
— soccer: the act of kicking a ball away from the goal one is defending
French:
dégagement
— soccer: the act of kicking a ball away from the goal one is defending
Galician:
despexe
— soccer: the act of kicking a ball away from the goal one is defending
Greenlandic:
arsamik peersineq
— soccer: the act of kicking a ball away from the goal one is defending
Hungarian:
felszabadítás
— soccer: the act of kicking a ball away from the goal one is defending
Hungarian:
felszabadító rúgás
— soccer: the act of kicking a ball away from the goal one is defending
Spanish:
despeje
— soccer: the act of kicking a ball away from the goal one is defending
Swedish:
rensning
— soccer: the act of kicking a ball away from the goal one is defending
