explanation

noun

ex·​pla·​na·​tion ˌek-splə-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce explanation (audio)
1
: the act or process of explaining
2
: something that explains
gave no explanation

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 Part of the explanation, analysts said, was that dark memories of a right-wing dictatorship that fell in 1974 kept populists at bay. Catarina Fernandes Martins, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 The filmmaker, Hayao Miyazaki, was not in attendance and offered no explanation at the time. Sarah Bahr, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024 But there are more troubling potential explanations, too. Alexa Lee, STAT, 7 Mar. 2024 In dating, ghosting is when someone ends all communication without giving the other person any warning or explanation. Kailyn Brown, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024 But on Telegram, such explanations were not seen or were otherwise ignored. David Gilbert, WIRED, 6 Mar. 2024 Scutt has an explanation about why this piece—created by a group of brilliant Jewish men about the rise of antisemitism and hate, about the dangers of apathy—​continues to speak to us so profoundly almost 60 years after its Broadway debut. Adrienne Miller, Vogue, 5 Mar. 2024 Salt says an autopsy revealed Cash died from SIDS, the term for the sudden and unexpected death of an infant, for which medical experts currently have no explanation or cause. Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 5 Mar. 2024 Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Telegram that Germany owes Russia an explanation regarding the discussion of military operations in Crimea. Joe Hernandez, NPR, 3 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'explanation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of explanation was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near explanation

Cite this Entry

“Explanation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/explanation. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

explanation

noun
ex·​pla·​na·​tion ˌek-splə-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce explanation (audio)
1
: the act or process of explaining
2
: a statement that makes something clear

More from Merriam-Webster on explanation

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