clearance

Official permission to travel, enter a place, see private information, or do something.

• You need security clearance to enter.
• The shipment received customs clearance yesterday.
• Has she obtained clearance to read those files?

How to use it: clearance to do something (She received clearance to enter the laboratory.); clearance for something (We are waiting for clearance for the shipment.)

Similar words: authorization, permission

Common phrases: security clearance, get clearance, clearance for something

A sale in which a shop lowers prices to sell remaining goods and make room for new ones.

• I bought this coat in a clearance sale.
• The shop is offering clearance prices on winter boots.
• All these lamps are on clearance.

Similar words: sale, sell-off

Common phrases: clearance sale, clearance prices, on clearance

Official permission for a plane to take off or land.

• The plane has clearance to land.
• The pilot waited for takeoff clearance.
• The tower refused landing clearance because the runway was blocked.

How to use it: clearance to do something (The pilot requested clearance to land.)

Similar words: authorization, permission

Common phrases: landing clearance, takeoff clearance, request clearance

Space between objects that allows one to move past or under another without touching it.

• The truck needs more clearance.
• There is enough clearance under the bridge for our van.
• The car has low ground clearance.

How to use it: clearance between A and B (There is little clearance between the door and the floor.); clearance under something (Check the clearance under the bridge.)

Similar words: gap, space, headroom

Common phrases: ground clearance, enough clearance, clearance under something

The process of removing unwanted material from a place or harmful substances from the body.

• Snow clearance began before dawn.
• The builders arranged site clearance before starting work.
• The kidneys help with the clearance of waste from the blood.

How to use it: clearance of something (Clearance of the rubble took three days.)

Similar words: removal, clearing

Common phrases: snow clearance, site clearance, clearance of something

The bank process that makes money from a deposited cheque available to spend.

• The cheque is awaiting clearance.
• Clearance may take three working days.
• You cannot withdraw the money until cheque clearance is complete.

Similar words: clearing

Common phrases: cheque clearance, await clearance, clearance period