Princeton's WordNet(3.24 / 13 votes)Rate this definition:

1. explanation, account(noun)

   a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.

   "the explanation was very simple"; "I expected a brief account"

2. explanation(noun)

   thought that makes something comprehensible

3. explanation(noun)

   the act of explaining; making something plain or intelligible

   "I heard his explanation of the accident"

Wiktionary(3.33 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. explanation(Noun)

   The act or process of explaining

   The explanation was long and drawn-out.

2. explanation(Noun)

   Something that explains, makes understandable

   An explanation for each UFO sighting was easily found.

3. explanation(Noun)

   An excuse, apologetic justification not based on enough evidence

   Hoover supporters' "explanations" and former status rarely save him from modern ridicule as a useless expense.

Origin: From explanatio, from explanare; see explain.

Webster Dictionary(5.00 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Explanation(noun)

   the act of explaining, expounding, or interpreting; the act of clearing from obscurity and making intelligible; as, the explanation of a passage in Scripture, or of a contract or treaty

2. Explanation(noun)

   that which explains or makes clear; as, a satisfactory explanation

3. Explanation(noun)

   the meaning attributed to anything by one who explains it; definition; interpretation; sense

4. Explanation(noun)

   a mutual exposition of terms, meaning, or motives, with a view to adjust a misunderstanding, and reconcile differences; reconciliation; agreement; as, to come to an explanation

Freebase(2.67 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Explanation

   An explanation is a set of statements constructed to describe a set of facts which clarifies the causes, context, and consequences of those facts. This description may establish rules or laws, and may clarify the existing ones in relation to any objects, or phenomena examined. The components of an explanation can be implicit, and be interwoven with one another. An explanation is often underpinned by an understanding that is represented by different media such as music, text, and graphics. Thus, an explanation is subjected to interpretation, and discussion. In scientific research, explanation is one of the purposes of research, e.g., exploration and description. Explanation is a way to uncover new knowledge, and to report relationships among different aspects of studied phenomena. Explanations have varied explanatory power.

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'explanation' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #2137

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'explanation' in Written Corpus Frequency: #3976

3. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'explanation' in Nouns Frequency: #734

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of explanation in Chaldean Numerology is: 9

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of explanation in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5

Examples of explanation in a Sentence

1. Mohamad Al-Hakim:

   Any explanation is better than no explanation.

2. The State-Boston Retirement System:

   The only plausible explanation for the sharp break.

3. Hector Hugh Munro:

   A little inaccuracy sometimes saves tons of explanation.

4. Hilton Kramer:

   The more minimal the art, the more maximum the explanation.

5. Lee Nelson:

   I never got any explanation about master limited partnerships.

Images & Illustrations of explanation

Popularity rank by frequency of use