clarify

verb

clar·​i·​fy ˈkler-ə-ˌfī 

ˈkla-rə-

clarified; clarifying

transitive verb

1

: to make understandable

clarify a subject

The president was forced to clarify his position on the issue.

2

: to free of confusion

needs time to clarify his thoughts

3

: to make (a liquid or something liquefied) clear or pure usually by freeing from suspended matter

clarify syrup

intransitive verb

: to become clear

… waiting for the present muddled diplomatic situation to clarify …

—Newsweek

clarification

ˌkler-ə-fə-ˈkā-shən 

ˌkla-rə-

noun

clarifier

ˈkler-ə-ˌfī(-ə)r 

ˈkla-rə-

noun

Synonyms of clarify

• filter
• refine
• extract
• fine
• clear
• purify

Examples of clarify in a Sentence

Can you clarify exactly what it is you're proposing?

Her explanation did not clarify matters much.

The president was forced to clarify his position on the issue.

The committee clarified the manager's duties.

a substance used to clarify wine

Recent Examples on the Web

But the state’s high court agreed to review the matter to clarify a legal question regarding bail in California. — Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026

When asked to clarify Rice’s appearance and statements in the video, a PadSplit spokesperson denied that the house in the video was in the Wesley Heights neighborhood. — Diamy Wang august 15, Charlotte Observer, 15 Aug. 2026

However, a correction was issued in September 2021 to clarify that there was not enough data to calculate the risk of miscarriage using this particular study. — Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026

This story has been updated to clarify that the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority is not a state agency. — Solomon Greene, The Conversation, 14 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English clarifien, from Anglo-French clarifier, from Late Latin clarificare, from Latin clarus clear — more at clear

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3

Rhymes for clarify

• abscissae
• adonai
• alibi
• alkali
• alumni
• amoebae
• amplify
• annuli
• beautify
• brachii
• butterfly
• calculi

Kids Definition

clarify

verb

clar·​i·​fy ˈklar-ə-ˌfī 

clarified; clarifying

1

: to make or become pure or clear

clarify a liquid

2

: to make or become easier to understand

clarify a statement

clarification

ˌklar-ə-fə-ˈkā-shən 

noun

clarifier

ˈklar-ə-ˌfī(-ə)r 

noun

Medical Definition

clarify

verb

clar·​i·​fy ˈklar-ə-ˌfī 

clarified; clarifying

transitive verb

: to make (as a liquid) clear or pure usually by freeing from suspended matter

clarify sewage

intransitive verb

: to become clear

clarification

ˌklar-ə-fə-ˈkā-shən 

noun

clarifier

ˈklar-ə-ˌfī(-ə)r 

noun