Synonyms for explanation
Synonyms by meaning
Noun
1. Explication — the act or process of explaining
elucidation, explaining, clarification, interpretation, elaboration, comment, solution, exposition, illustration, exegesis, whys and wherefores, light, clearing, gloss, explication formal dated, mansplaining slang, femsplaining rare, mansplanation informal rare
2. Justification
Other
account, description, meaning, key, resolution, construction
Definitions
- n. 1
The act or process of explaining.
The explanation was long and drawn-out.
- n. 2
Something that explains or makes understandable.
An explanation for the UFO sightings was easily found.
Related words
- Word family
- explain explanatory explicative explicator explicatory
- Phrases
- explorable explanation
Forms
- Plural
- explanations → elucidations, explainings, clarifications, interpretations…
Choose the right word
A definition is exact, an explanation general; a definition is formal, a description pictorial.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- explaining Tom is in the next room, explaining what happened.
- interpretation His interpretation of this matter is too one-sided.
- clarification We are at your disposal for any further clarification.
- elucidation Eschew obfuscation, espouse elucidation.
- account This is the sort of thing you have to account for.
- meaning He explained the literal meaning of the sentences.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| explanation | steady | |
| explaining | rising | |
| interpretation | steady | |
| clarification | falling | |
| elucidation | falling | |
| account | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- key1
- 5 letters
- light1, gloss1
- 6 letters
- theory2
- 7 letters
- account2, comment2, meaning2
- 8 letters
- solution3, clearing2, exegesis
- 9 letters
- rationale3
- 10 letters
- resolution4, explaining3, exposition4
- 11 letters
- description3, elaboration5, elucidation, explication4
- 12 letters
- construction3, illustration4, mansplaining, femsplaining
- 13 letters
- justification5, clarification5, mansplanation
- 14 letters
- interpretation5
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (theory2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- explication
- Italiano
- esplicazione
- Español
- explicación
- Deutsch
- Aussprache
- Català
- explicació