explanation

[ek-spluh-ney-shuhn] / ˌɛk spləˈneɪ ʃən /

NOUN

clarification; reason

Synonyms

STRONGEST

account answer cause comment commentary confession definition description evidence example excuse expression information interpretation justification meaning motive note report resolution sense statement story summary

STRONG

annotation breakdown brief demonstration details display elucidation explication exposition gloss history illustration mitigation narration recital rendition showing significance specification tale talking telling vindication writing

Antonyms

STRONGEST

ignorance question quiet silence

STRONG

concealment hiding vagueness

WEAK

complication

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He called for a review of the paper and wants a formal explanation from Qualifications Scotland.

From BBC • May 11, 2026

The best explanation might have been investor positioning.

From Barron's • May 11, 2026

The team spent nearly six years moving from the initial discovery of the unusual stainless steel to the deeper scientific explanation, then toward publication and potential industrial use.

From Science Daily • May 10, 2026

There should be some weight and intention behind it, some larger explanation that can be used to justify the term’s use.

From Salon • May 10, 2026

When he was done, he had an explanation for the unpleasant odor wafting from the subprime mortgage industry that Eisman had detected.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

Vocabulary lists containing explanation

The Language of Standardized Tests, List 1

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PARCC: Language of the Test (Grade7)

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The SAT: Language of the Test, List 4

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