Clearance
/ˈklɪr.əns/noun
The act of clearing something away or making space; an official permission or reduction in price.
Did you know?Clearance comes from the same root as *clear*, ultimately from Latin *clarus* meaning “bright, loud, famous,” so its deepest history is about shining into visibility, not just emptying a room.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
clarus
“bright, clear, famous, loud”
Old French
Old French
cler
“clear, bright, evident”
Middle English
English
cleer
“clear, bright, pure, free from obstruction”
15th Century
English
clearance
“the act of clearing or making clear”
Modern English
English
clearance
“the act of removing something; official permission; a sale reduction”