clearance

clearance — noun

1. When unwanted items, litter, or dangerous substances are cleared out of an area,

1.nounB2
Definition

When unwanted items, litter, or dangerous substances are cleared out of an area, this process is called clearance.

Example

The hospital hired a team for the clearance of hazardous chemical waste.

collocation: clearance of [waste/debris]

After the renovation, the clearance of old furniture took two full days.

Common collocations
  • waste clearance
  • debris clearance
  • clearance of [material]
  • slum clearance
Synonyms
  • removal

    more general term; 'clearance' implies a systematic cleaning out

  • disposal

    focuses on getting rid of something permanently, often waste

Grammar Patterns

clearance + of + noun

Usage Note

Frequently uncountable. Often used with a following 'of'-phrase specifying what is removed.

Common Mistakes

The clearance of rubbish will be done weekly by the council.
The rubbish clearance will be done weekly by the council.
the attributive form (rubbish clearance) is more natural than 'clearance of rubbish' in everyday contexts.

2. The act of forcing people to leave their homes or land permanently, often for de

2.nounC1
Definition

The act of forcing people to leave their homes or land permanently, often for development or political reasons.

Example

The government ordered the clearance of the informal settlement near the riverbank.

formal register: clearance of [community]

Over two thousand families faced clearance when the mining company expanded its operations.

Common collocations
  • forced clearance
  • slum clearance
  • clearance order
  • land clearance
Synonyms
  • eviction

    more common in legal contexts; 'clearance' often refers to larger-scale operations

  • displacement

    broader term covering any forced movement, not just from homes

Grammar Patterns

clearance + of + people

Usage Note

Formal register, typically found in news reporting about land disputes or urban redevelopment. Distinguished from sense 1 (WASTE REMOVAL) by involving people rather than objects.

3. An event where a store sells goods at reduced prices to make room for new stock.

3.nounB1
Definition

An event where a store sells goods at reduced prices to make room for new stock.

Example

The shop is having a clearance on winter coats to make space for spring clothes.

collocation: have a clearance on [goods]

Beatriz found a sofa at a huge discount during the furniture store's clearance.

Common collocations
  • clearance sale
  • clearance section
  • on clearance
  • annual clearance
Synonyms
  • sale

    more general; 'clearance' specifically implies making space for new goods

  • markdown

    focuses on the price reduction; 'clearance' emphasises stock removal

Grammar Patterns

clearance + sale

on clearance

Usage Note

Uncountable in standard use ('on clearance'). Often appears in compound nouns such as 'clearance sale' or 'clearance section'. More informal than 'discount event'.

4. The minimum distance that must exist between two items to prevent them from hitt

4.nounB2
Definition

The minimum distance that must exist between two items to prevent them from hitting each other, especially in engineering or construction.

Example

The bridge has a clearance of only four metres, so large trucks cannot pass underneath.

collocation: [structure] has a clearance of [height]

The mechanic checked the clearance between the brake pads and the wheel disc.

Common collocations
  • ground clearance
  • headroom clearance
  • clearance between
  • vertical clearance
  • minimum clearance
Synonyms
  • gap

    less technical; 'clearance' implies a required safety distance

  • space

    broader; 'clearance' is more precise in engineering contexts

Grammar Patterns

clearance + between

clearance + of

Usage Note

Countable when a specific measurement is stated ('a clearance of 10 cm'); uncountable when referring to the concept generally ('not enough clearance').

5. Official approval given by an authority that allows a person to do something, en

5.nounB2
Definition

Official approval given by an authority that allows a person to do something, enter a place, access information, or proceed with a plan.

Example

Nikolai needed security clearance before he could start working at the embassy.

collocation: security clearance

The plane received clearance to take off after a short delay due to fog.

pattern: received clearance to [verb]

Common collocations
  • security clearance
  • planning clearance
  • ethical clearance
  • customs clearance
  • clearance to [verb]
  • get/obtain/receive clearance
Synonyms
  • authorization

    more formal, often written; 'clearance' suggests a background check aspect

  • approval

    broader; 'clearance' implies meeting specific conditions or passing a vetting process

  • permission

    more general; 'clearance' typically comes from an official process

Grammar Patterns

clearance + to-infinitive

clearance + for

Usage Note

Uncountable. Often followed by a 'to'-infinitive ('clearance to proceed') or 'for' + noun ('clearance for takeoff'). Subject is typically an official body such as a government agency, airport, or ethics committee.

Common Mistakes

I got the manager's clearance to leave early.
I got clearance from the security team to enter the building.
'clearance' implies an official vetting process, not a simple personal OK; for that use 'permission'.

6. The process by which a cheque passes through the banking system so that the mone

6.nounB2
Definition

The process by which a cheque passes through the banking system so that the money moves from one account to another and becomes available to the person who received it.

Example

The bank told Hana that cheque clearance would take three working days.

collocation: cheque clearance

Electronic payments are processed much faster than the traditional cheque clearance system.

Common collocations
  • cheque clearance
  • clearance time
  • clearance process

Grammar Patterns

cheque clearance

Usage Note

Uncountable in standard use. 'Cheque' is the British spelling; American English uses 'check clearance'. This sense is less common in daily conversation due to the rise of electronic banking.

7. In football (soccer), a defensive move in which a player strikes the ball far fr

7.nounB2
Definition

In football (soccer), a defensive move in which a player strikes the ball far from the goalmouth to stop the opposition from scoring.

Example

The defender made a crucial clearance off the goal line in the final minute.

pattern: make a clearance

Tomás sent a powerful clearance into the opposite half of the field.

Common collocations
  • make a clearance
  • goal-line clearance
  • poor clearance
  • crucial clearance

Grammar Patterns

make a clearance

Usage Note

Countable — each kicking action is 'a clearance'. Common in football commentary and match reports. Not used for other sports such as rugby or basketball.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/5

Clearance, authorization, and approval all refer to official consent, but they differ in scope and process. Clearance typically implies that someone or something has been vetted or checked against specific criteria — for example, security clearance involves background checks, and customs clearance involves inspecting goods. Authorization is more formal and often written, granting someone the legal power to act (e.g., 'authorization to withdraw funds'). Approval is broader and can range from informal agreement to official endorsement, but it does not necessarily involve the layers of vetting that clearance implies. Permission is the most general term, covering any situation where someone is allowed to do something. In practice: 'The pilot received clearance to land' (air traffic control checks conditions first). 'The board gave its approval for the merger' (a decision is made). 'She has permission to use the library after hours' (a simple allowance).

authorizationapproval ↗permission ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • security clearance
  • clearance sale
  • clearance certificate
  • clearance process
  • clearance time

Adverbs

  • full clearance
  • proper clearance
  • final clearance

Phrases

  • get clearance
  • obtain clearance
  • receive clearance
  • need clearance
  • grant clearance
  • wait for clearance

Prepositions

  • clearance for
  • clearance from
  • clearance to

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Clearance comes from the word 'clear' (meaning free from obstruction or bright), which entered English from Old French 'cler', itself from Latin 'clārus' meaning bright or distinct. The suffix '-ance' turns adjectives into nouns of action or state. The word first appeared in the 1500s with the general meaning of making clear. By the 1800s it had developed specific meanings in commerce (selling off stock), engineering (space between objects), and banking (cheque processing). The sense of official permission emerged in the 20th century, drawing on the idea of someone or something being 'cleared' — found free of objection after investigation.