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. Ronald Knox:

   It is so stupid of modern civilization to have given up believing in the devil when he is the only explanation of it.

2. W. Somerset Maugham:

   There is no explanation for evil. It must be looked upon as a necessary part of the order of the universe. To ignore it is childish to bewail it senseless.

3. Professor Karsten Koenig:

   So far we've got interesting results from three astronauts. It seems that there is a strong production of collagen; so suddenly these astronauts have more collagen. It means there is some sort of anti-ageing effect, at least in the dermis - the lower part of the skin. And we found that the epidermis, in particular the part of the living cells, that this epidermis is shrinking, so the skin gets thinner, so far we have no explanation yet, and we are waiting for the other astronauts to figure out what's going on and maybe to try to figure out how we can protect, how we can help so that this epidermis is not shrinking.

4. David Bell:

   I think that helped, like the rule or not, it was something that was going to be enforced and Graham understood that after that explanation, i did a poor job of explaining it before the game. Thankfully nothing bad happened. It was nice that they just warned him and made him aware of it.

5. Mitt Romney:

   There is only one logical explanation for Mr. Trump's refusal to release his returns: There is a bombshell in them.

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