Explanation: Meaning, Examples, and Usage Guide

Meaning 1：clarification (explanation)

explanation 🔊

/ˌɛkspləˈneɪʃən/

The details or reasons you give to make something clear or easy to understand.

Teacher explaining diagram to students in classroom

clarification 🔊

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/ˌklærɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/

A statement or set of reasons that makes something understandable by providing details or context.

📁 Category：School Education 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'explanare' (ex- 'out' + planus 'flat'), meaning to make flat or clear.

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine 'ex-' (out) + 'plain' (clear) + '-ation' (action) = bringing the plain truth out into the open.

📖 Example

The teacher gave a simple explanation of how plants use sunlight to grow, which helped all the students understand. 🔊 The teacher gave a simple explanation of how plants use sunlight to grow, which helped all the students understand.

🔗 Collocations

provide an explanation – Give a clarification or reason for something

clear explanation – An explanation that is easy to understand

detailed explanation – An explanation that includes many specifics

🔄 Synonyms

clarification (n.) – A statement that makes something clearer or less confusing

elucidation (n.) – A formal term for making something clear, often used in academic contexts

explication (n.) – A detailed analysis or explanation of a text or idea

🚫 Antonyms

confusion (n.) – A state of being unclear or misunderstood

obscurity (n.) – The quality of being difficult to understand

mystery (n.) – Something that is not explained or understood

🌱 Derivatives

explanatory (adj.) – Serving to explain or clarify

explicate (v.) – To analyze and explain in detail

explanatorily (adv.) – In a manner that explains

📖 Cultural Story

In ancient Roman rhetoric, 'explanare' meant to smooth out rough ideas, making them understandable. This root evolved into the English word used today in education, science, and daily communication.