explanation

noun

ex·​pla·​na·​tion ˌek-splə-ˈnā-shən 

1

: the act or process of explaining

declined without any explanation

The company offered little by way of explanation for the problems. [=as a way of explaining why there were problems]

2

: something that explains

The professor's explanation was that the poem was really a parody.

Synonyms of explanation

• interpretation
• illustration
• clarification

Examples of explanation in a Sentence

The professor's explanation was that the poem is really a parody.

an explanation of photosynthesis that most museum visitors will be able to understand

Recent Examples on the Web

New York — Amazon chief executive Andy Jassy’s explanation for why the company is cutting 14,000 employees? —Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025

However, officials said Ashlee Buzzard has not cooperated in the investigation and has not provided an explanation for her daughter's whereabouts. —Melina Khan, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025

And yet, practically everyone in the ancient, classical, and medieval world went with the first explanation and not the second. —Big Think, 30 Oct. 2025

These analyses ruled out explanations like recency bias, where animals simply favor the most recent signal, or responding to the most obvious cue. —Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 30 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for explanation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

explanation

noun

ex·​pla·​na·​tion ˌek-splə-ˈnā-shən 

1

: the act or process of explaining

2

: a statement that makes something clear