Definitions for explanation
ˌɛk spləˈneɪ ʃənex·pla·na·tion

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:3.2 / 13 votes

1. explanation, accountnoun

   a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.

   "the explanation was very simple"; "I expected a brief account"

2. explanationnoun

   thought that makes something comprehensible

3. explanationnoun

   the act of explaining; making something plain or intelligible

   "I heard his explanation of the accident"

WiktionaryRate this definition:3.2 / 5 votes

1. explanationnoun

   The act or process of explaining

   The explanation was long and drawn-out.

2. explanationnoun

   Something that explains, makes understandable

   An explanation for each UFO sighting was easily found.

3. explanationnoun

   An excuse, apologetic justification not based on enough evidence

   Hoover supporters' "explanations" and former status rarely save him from modern ridicule as a useless expense.

4. Etymology: From explanatio, from explanare; see explain.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Explanationnoun

   Etymology: from explain.

   1. The act of explaining or interpreting.2. The sense given by an explainer or interpreter.

   Before this explanation be condemned, and the bill found upon it, some lawyers should fully inform the jury. Jonathan Swift.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. explanation

   An explanation is a description or justification that provides clarifying information or details about a particular topic, concept, situation or phenomenon, often with the intent of making it clear, understandable or providing a reason for it.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:4.8 / 4 votes

1. Explanationnoun

   the act of explaining, expounding, or interpreting; the act of clearing from obscurity and making intelligible; as, the explanation of a passage in Scripture, or of a contract or treaty

2. Explanationnoun

   that which explains or makes clear; as, a satisfactory explanation

3. Explanationnoun

   the meaning attributed to anything by one who explains it; definition; interpretation; sense

4. Explanationnoun

   a mutual exposition of terms, meaning, or motives, with a view to adjust a misunderstanding, and reconcile differences; reconciliation; agreement; as, to come to an explanation

WikidataRate this definition:3.3 / 4 votes

1. Explanation

   An explanation is a set of statements constructed to describe a set of facts which clarifies the causes, context, and consequences of those facts. This description may establish rules or laws, and may clarify the existing ones in relation to any objects, or phenomena examined. The components of an explanation can be implicit, and be interwoven with one another. An explanation is often underpinned by an understanding that is represented by different media such as music, text, and graphics. Thus, an explanation is subjected to interpretation, and discussion. In scientific research, explanation is one of the purposes of research, e.g., exploration and description. Explanation is a way to uncover new knowledge, and to report relationships among different aspects of studied phenomena. Explanations have varied explanatory power.

Editors ContributionRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. explanation

   The act and process of to explain.

   The explanation was crystal clear and we all understood.

   
   

   Submitted by MaryC on April 6, 2020  

Matched Categories

1. • Speech Act
   • Statement
   • Thinking

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'explanation' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #2137

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'explanation' in Written Corpus Frequency: #3976

3. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'explanation' in Nouns Frequency: #734

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

1. 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How to pronounce explanation?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say explanation in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of explanation in Chaldean Numerology is: 9

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of explanation in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5

Examples of explanation in a Sentence

1. Dennis Bourdette:

   In the multiple sclerosis field, there are a very small number of physicians who prescribe Acthar, and I've never understood why these physicians do that, if these accusations are true, it may provide an explanation.

2. Pete Marocco:

   I don’t see him as having that sort of sensitivity or caring unless there might have been some sort of tactic or mutual agreement with China, if he did that, that would be a surprising strategic blunder on his part. I tend to think that there’s another explanation behind the scenes as to why there was this lull before the start. Perhaps to allow predictable sanctions targets enough time to move assets before U.S. sanctions would be put in place.

3. Ashley Beeman , 34:

   I had pretended to be living this really healthy lifestyle to all my followers and I owed them an explanation, i went live on Facebook and I received such a warm reaction. Everyone was really supportive and they started sharing their own struggles with Adderall.

4. Jerri Hrubes:

   But, I do not support putting a child of 10-years-old at gunpoint with no explanation. . . Does he look like hes 30? Does he look like hes 18? No.

5. Brian Woods:

   I went from being disturbed by the initial verbal explanation that had been given to me to (being) really very troubled, it was really very disturbing that students associated with one of our programs would engage in that kind of behavior.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=explanation
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Explanation
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=explanation
4. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
5. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/explanation
6. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=explanation
7. ^ Usage in printed sources
   https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=explanation