clearance

noun

clear·​ance ˈklir-ən(t)s 

1

: an act or process of clearing: such as

a

: the removal of buildings from an area (such as a city slum)

b

: the act of clearing a ship at the customhouse

also : the papers showing that a ship has cleared

c

: the offsetting of checks and other claims among banks through a clearinghouse

d

: certification as clear of objection : authorization

security clearance

e

: a sale to clear out stock

f

: authorization for an aircraft to proceed especially with a specified action

clearance to land

2

: the distance by which one object clears another or the clear space between them

3

: the volume of blood or plasma that can be freed of a specified constituent in a specified time by its excretion into the urine through the kidneys

a creatine clearance of 25 milliliters per minute

called also renal clearance

Synonyms

• allowance
• authorization
• concurrence
• consent
• granting
• green light
• leave
• license
• licence
• permission
• sanction
• sufferance
• warrant

Examples of clearance in a Sentence

She has a security clearance that allows her to see the classified information.

The pilot got clearance to land.

That flight has not received clearance for landing.

There was only 10 inches of clearance between the car and the side of the tunnel.

a bridge with a 100-foot clearance above the water

the clearance of forests for farming

slum clearance to make room for new housing

Recent Examples on the Web

The grant from San Jose Water will help the council with its efforts to improve roadway signage and vegetation clearance to improve access for emergency vehicles in Aldercroft Heights, a community just south of the Lexington Reservoir in the Santa Cruz Mountains. —Isha Trivedi, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024

Indy homicide:Indianapolis killings in October 2024 Police have so far solved 65 cases, a clearance rate of 36.6%, according to monthly data provided by IMPD. —John Tuohy, The Indianapolis Star, 2 Nov. 2024

Changi Airport, frequently rated among the best in the world, now has passport-less clearance at all four of its passenger terminals. —Alena Botros, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2024

More than 60% of these clearances were related to demand from other parts of the country and 21% to foreign markets. —Simi Thambi​, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1540, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing clearance

• clearance sale
• renal clearance
• road/ground clearance
• security clearance

Kids Definition

clearance

noun

clear·​ance ˈklir-ən(t)s 

1

a

: an act or process of clearing

b

: the act of clearing a ship at the customhouse

c

: the papers showing that a ship has cleared

d

: authorization for an airplane to proceed

2

: a sale to clear out stock

3

: the distance by which one object keeps from hitting or touching another or the clear space between them

Medical Definition

clearance

noun

clear·​ance ˈklir-ən(t)s 

: the volume of blood or plasma that could be freed of a specified constituent in a specified time (usually one minute) by excretion of the constituent into the urine through the kidneys

called also renal clearance