Etymologically
Log in

clearance

Etymology and origin of the English word clearance

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1540
Ultimate origin
English (clear)

Pronunciation

  • IPA: UK /ˈklɪə.rəns/, US /ˈklɪr.əns/[1]

Etymology

It is formed from the verb clear and -ance.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The action of clearing or making clear: 1540 in Merriam-Webster, before 1563 in the OED, the 1560s in Etymonline.[3][4][2]

Semantic evolution

The clearing of a ship at the customs house is from 1731–6.[4] A clear space is from 1788,[2] and the removal of obstructions from 1824.[4] The clearing of land by removing trees, old houses or inhabitants is from 1851,[4] as in slum clearance.[5] The passing of cheques through a clearing house is from 1858.[4] Clearance sale is attested by 1843,[2] and in football the act of clearing the ball from one's goal from 1920.[4] Approval or permission, especially for an aircraft to land or take off, is from 1944 in American English, and security clearance from 1948.[2]

Timeline

  • 1540 – a clearing.[3]
  • 1731–6 – customs clearance.[4]
  • 1788 – a clear space.[2]
  • 1843 – clearance sale.[2]
  • 1944 – permission to land or take off (US).[2]
  • 1948 – security clearance.[2]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. The removal of something unwanted, such as buildings or goods: slum clearance.
  2. Official permission, as for an aircraft to take off or land, or for access to secret information.
  3. The space or distance between two things, such as a vehicle and a bridge.
  4. (sport) The act of kicking or hitting the ball away from one's goal.

Word family

  • clearer
  • nonclearance
  • preclearance
  • reclearance
  • Q clearance
  • renal clearance

References

  1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins
Cite this entry

“Clearance.” Etymologically, 17 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/clearance. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·