clearinghouse

noun

clear·​ing·​house ˈklir-iŋ-ˌhau̇s 

1

: an establishment maintained by banks for settling mutual claims and accounts

2

: a central agency for the collection, classification, and distribution especially of information

broadly : an informal channel for distributing information or assistance

Examples of clearinghouse in a Sentence

an online clearinghouse for information on museums around the world

Recent Examples on the Web

The clearinghouse process has been used by Citizens for a little more than a decade in its efforts to shed policies. —Jim Turner, Sun Sentinel, 9 Mar. 2026

On a per-athlete basis, 10 Butler women’s tennis players are currently earning the most, at $2,100 per month—sums that would be subject to the CSC’s NILGo clearinghouse. —Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 23 Feb. 2026

The task force is a Reagan-era creation to combat a surge in cocaine trafficking, and the Fusion Center was opened in 2009 as a clearinghouse for intelligence sharing between federal law enforcement agencies. —Daniel Ruetenik, CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026

The latter typically involves calling a broker to discuss travel needs, budgets, and schedules, after which the broker checks in with aircraft owners, managers, or clearinghouses. —J. George Gorant, Robb Report, 22 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1792, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for clearinghouse

• boardinghouse
• charterhouse
• coffeehouse
• customhouse
• firehouse
• meetinghouse
• motherhouse
• packinghouse
• pilothouse
• powerhouse
• slaughterhouse
• summerhouse

Kids Definition

clearinghouse

noun

clear·​ing·​house -ˌhau̇s 

1

: an institution run by banks for the exchanging of checks and claims

2

: a central agency for collecting and giving out information

Legal Definition

clearinghouse

noun

clear·​ing·​house ˈklir-iŋ-ˌhau̇s 

: an institution that arranges for payment of checks owed by one bank to another