explanation

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A statement that makes something clear or easy to understand.

   The teacher gave a simple explanation of how volcanoes form.

2. 2
   noun

   A reason given for why something happened.

   An explanation for the strange noises was easily found.

From Latin explanatio (“an explanation, interpretation”), from explanare (“explain”); see explain. Morphologically explain + -ation. Displaced native Old English racu.

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