explanation
nounCA, US, UK /ˌɛkspləˈneɪʃən/ · AU, NZ /ˌekspləˈnæɪʃən/
Etymology From Latin explanatio (“an explanation, interpretation”), from explanare (“explain”); see explain. Morphologically explain + -ation. Displaced native Old English racu.
1
The act or process of explaining.
- The explanation was long and drawn-out.
2
Something that explains or makes understandable.
- An explanation for the UFO sightings was easily found.
- The socialist will, of course, see in this merely a proof that the more intelligent person is today bound to become a socialist. But this is far from being the necessary or even the most likely explanation.1949, F. A. Hayek, “The Intellectuals and Socialism”, in University of Chicago Law Review, volume 16, number 3, Chicago: University of Chicago, →DOI, page 427:
3
A resolution of disputed points pursuant to discussion; a mutual clarification of disputed points; reconciliation.
- This little explanation with Mr. Knightley gave Emma considerable pleasure.1815, Jane Austen, Emma, volume III, chapter 3:
- Synonyms
- clarification, elucidation, elaboration, explaining, explication, femsplaining, mansplaining, mansplanation
- Derived terms
- counterexplanation, explainification, explanationism, explanationist, explorable explanation, inference to the best explanation, misexplanation, nonexplanation, reexplanation, subexplanation
- Related terms
- explain, explanatory, explicative, explicator, explicatory