explanation
/ˌɛkspləˈneɪʃən/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: explanations
Sense 1
Meaning · English
The act or process of explaining.
Noun
Examples
The explanation was long and drawn-out.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
Something that explains or makes understandable.
Noun
Examples
An explanation for the UFO sightings was easily found.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “explanation” mean?
The act or process of explaining.
Is “explanation” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.