explanation

noun
UK: /ˌekspləˈneɪʃn/
US: /ˌekspləˈneɪʃn/

  1. A statement or account that makes something clear.

    1. I need an explanation for why you were late to the meeting. [ ] [ ]
    2. The teacher gave a detailed explanation of the scientific theory. [ ] [ ]

  2. A reason or justification given for an action or belief.

    1. His only explanation was that he forgot to set an alarm. [ ] [ ]
    2. The company provided a public explanation for the product recall. [ ] [ ]

  3. The act or process of clarifying or interpreting something.

    1. The map requires careful explanation to understand the symbols. [ ] [ ]
    2. Further explanation is needed to fully grasp the complex algorithm. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

description account interpretation justification reason
explanation transitive-verb

  1. To provide reasons for something to make it understandable.

    1. Can you explain why you did that? [ ] [ ]
    2. She tried to explain her unusual behavior to her friends. [ ] [ ]

  2. To offer details to clarify a difficult or complex subject.

    1. The scientist will explain the findings of the research project soon. [ ] [ ]
    2. Please explain the terms and conditions before I sign this contract. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "explanation" in English means: A statement or account that makes something clear., A reason or justification given for an action or belief., The act or process of clarifying or interpreting something..

The phonetic transcription of "explanation" is /ˌekspləˈneɪʃn/ in British English and /ˌekspləˈneɪʃn/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "explanation": description, account, interpretation, justification, reason.

Example usage of "explanation": "I need an explanation for why you were late to the meeting.". More examples on the page.