clearance

UK: /ˈklɪərəns/ US: /ˈklɪrəns/ ,(klēr′əns)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

clear•ance /ˈklɪrəns/   n. 

1. the act of clearing:
   [uncountable] The plane waited for clearance to take off.
   [countable] A clearance for working under that sort of visa takes time.
2. the distance between two objects;
   an amount of clear space:
   [uncountable] There isn't much clearance between the roof of this van and the garage opening.
   [countable* usually singular]
   a clearance of only a few inches under that bridge.
3. a formal authorization permitting access to classified information, etc.:
   [uncountable] I applied for clearance to read those sealed documents.
4. Also called ˈclear•ance ˌsale. the selling of merchandise at reduced prices to make room for new goods:
   [countable] a holiday clearance.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

clear•ance  (klēr′əns), n. 

1. the act of clearing.
2. the distance between two objects;
   an amount of clear space:
   The bridge allowed a clearance of 37 feet at mean high water.
3. a formal authorization permitting access to classified information, documents, etc.
4. Also called clear′ance sale′. the disposal of merchandise at reduced prices to make room for new goods:
   He bought the coat for half price at a clearance.
5. a clear space;
   a clearing:
   The house stood in a clearance among the trees.
6. Business [Banking.] an exchange of checks and other commercial paper drawn on members of a clearinghouse, usually effected at a daily meeting of the members.
7. Mechanical Engineering [Mach.] a space between two moving parts, left to avoid clashing or to permit relatively free motion.
8. Mechanical Engineering the angle between a face of a cutting tool, as a lathe tool, and the work.
9. [Naut.]
   • Naval Terms the clearing of a ship at a port.
   • Naval Terms Also called clear′ance pa′pers. the official papers certifying this.
10. [Med.] a test of the excretory function of the kidneys based on the volume of blood that is cleared of a specific substance per minute by renal excretion.

• clear + -ance 1555–65

clear′er, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

clearance / ˈklɪərəns/ noun

1. the process or an instance of clearing: slum clearance
2. (as modifier): a clearance order
3. space between two parts in motion or in relative motion
4. permission for an aircraft, ship, passengers, etc, to proceed
5. official permission to have access to secret information, projects, areas, etc
6. the exchange of commercial documents drawn on the members of a clearing house
7. the disposal of merchandise at reduced prices
8. (as modifier): a clearance sale
9. the act of clearing an area of land of its inhabitants by mass eviction
10. a less common word for clearing