explanation
B1Neutral; common in formal, academic, and everyday contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A statement or account that makes something clear or understandable.
A reason or justification given for an action, belief, or event.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Refers to both the process of explaining and the content/statement itself. Can imply a logical, causal, or clarifying relationship.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling of related verb ('explain') is identical.
Connotations
Neutral in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both BrE and AmE.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
explanation for/of somethingexplanation that + clauseexplanation from someonegive/provide/offer an explanationVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “leave much to be explained”
- “beggar explanation (rare)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used when justifying decisions, results, or strategies to stakeholders (e.g., 'The board demanded an explanation for the quarterly loss.').
Academic
Crucial for describing methodology, interpreting data, and supporting arguments (e.g., 'The paper offers a new explanation for the observed phenomenon.').
Everyday
Common for clarifying misunderstandings or giving reasons (e.g., 'She gave a quick explanation for being late.').
Technical
Used to detail the workings of a system, process, or theory (e.g., 'The manual contains a technical explanation of the engine's cooling system.').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Could you explain the rules, please?
- He explained that the train had been cancelled.
American English
- Let me explain how the system works.
- She explained her position to the committee.
adverb
British English
- He spoke explanatorily about the complex process.
- She nodded explanatorily as she pointed to the diagram.
American English
- The instructor gestured explanatorily at the whiteboard.
- He added, explanatorily, 'That's why we need a backup plan.'
adjective
British English
- The explanatory notes were very helpful.
- He offered an explanatory pamphlet.
American English
- The video includes an explanatory voice-over.
- She wrote an explanatory email to her team.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I need an explanation. What is this?
- His explanation was easy to understand.
- Can you give me an explanation for your absence?
- The teacher's explanation helped me solve the problem.
- The scientist proposed a novel explanation for the data anomaly.
- Despite repeated requests, no satisfactory explanation was forthcoming.
- The philosopher's explanation of consciousness eschews traditional dualistic frameworks.
- The defendant's explanation was deemed contrived and lacked corroborating evidence.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'EX-PLAN-A-TION' – You take out (ex) a plan (plan) to make an action (-ation) of clarifying.
Conceptual Metaphor
UNDERSTANDING IS SEEING / KNOWING IS SEEING (e.g., 'shed light on', 'clear explanation', 'see the reason').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid overusing 'объяснение' for simple 'reason' – 'причина' may be better. Beware of false friend 'explanation' ≠ 'эксплуатация' (exploitation).
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect preposition: 'explanation about' (use 'for' or 'of'). Confusing 'explanation' with 'excuse' (explanation is neutral, excuse implies apology).
Practice
Quiz
Which preposition typically follows 'explanation' when referring to the cause of something?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
An 'explanation' is a neutral statement of reasons or causes. An 'excuse' specifically tries to justify a fault or failure, often to avoid blame.
Yes, it is usually countable (e.g., 'several explanations'). The uncountable form refers to the general act or process of explaining (e.g., 'a moment of explanation').
It is neutral-register; it is appropriate and common in both formal and informal contexts.
The verb is 'to explain'. The noun 'explanation' is derived from this verb.