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

Instead, the clearinghouse keeps track of the stock held by different brokerages on behalf of their customers and settles up transactions between those brokerages the next business day. —Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 24 Nov. 2025

The sanctions were ordered after the State Department made public crucial intelligence that demonstrated how RT had become a clearinghouse for Russian covert information operations. —James P. Rubin, Foreign Affairs, 19 Nov. 2025

On average, mold remediation costs between $1,222 and $3,751, according to the home service clearinghouse Angi, but in severe cases, the price can reach $30,000 or more. —Jonathan R.m. Charles, CBS News, 17 Nov. 2025

Backed by the County Commission’s most powerful member, Chair Anthony Rodriguez, the A3 Foundation served as a financial clearinghouse for CountryFest, the county rodeo Rodriguez hosts each year in his district at Tropical Park. —Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 8 Nov. 2025

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