clearance

noun

clear·​ance ˈklir-ən(t)s How to pronounce clearance (audio)
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The deal was conditioned upon approval by Alonzo Wickers, among the most preeminent legal clearance lawyers in the entertainment industry. Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Dec. 2024 Rucci’s sister Rosina added that Greene knew what had longevity and what would end up on discount stores’ clearance racks. Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 5 Dec. 2024 His colleague Jermaine Pegues, who oversaw the lengthy clearance process, agrees. William Earl, Variety, 5 Dec. 2024 Patel has called for mass firings at the Justice Department and FBI and stripping clearances from those who investigated Trump in 2016. Lauren Irwin, The Hill, 4 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for clearance 

Word History

First Known Use

1540, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of clearance was in 1540

Dictionary Entries Near clearance

Cite this Entry

“Clearance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clearance. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

clearance

noun
clear·​ance ˈklir-ən(t)s How to pronounce clearance (audio)
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 How to pronounce clearance (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on clearance

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