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clearance

clearance

223 4.4
Official permission to enter a place or take an action
  • noun
  • /ˈklɪrənss/
  • Formal
translation icon : autorización
  • The pilot was anxious to receive clearance for takeoff from the control tower.
  • security clearance
  • obtain clearance
  • require prior clearance

They approached Beijing to get clearance to list their stock overseas.

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Examples

  • We did have diplomatic clearance, but it was only to fly on the Victor 33 airway.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • Mr. Grin, you have received clearance from French Air Control.

  • We're trying to get clearance to turn them now.

  • The security clearance just takes too long with those people.

  • I need clearance for landing.

  • We don't have clearance to go behind enemy lines, sir.

  • Before long, however, they obtained their clearances and were given access to their own work.

    Academic text (1996)
  • You are now a government employee that holds a top secret SCI clearance, which I do as well.

  • We have increased security while speeding up the clearance process; approximately 1,000 backlogged applications have already been cleared out.

    Academic text (2004)
  • The nurses needed clearance from Dr. Goodacre, Sarah's main doctor, to let her go.

    Fiction book (1999)

Synonyms

permission
vsclearance
1.0

Official approval that lets you do something

focuses more on entry, exit, or specific restricted actions
warrant
vsclearance
  • Formal
702 4.6

An official paper that gives permission to do something, for example a court order

is broader and covers approvals outside legal documents
pass
vsclearance
374 1.6

An official ticket that allows entry to a place or event

is general official approval rather than a physical ticket
consent
vsclearance
  • Formal
344 3.2

Permission for something to happen, often given in writing

is usually an organizational or official approval rather than personal agreement
admission
vsclearance
149 3.4

Permission to enter a place or organization, often after a decision

covers entry but also other permissions like movement or actions
authorization
vsclearance
  • Formal
36 4.1

A written document that gives official permission or instruction

is the general official permission that applies beyond specific documents
go-ahead
vsclearance
31 3.4

Official permission to start something

applies more widely to entering, leaving, or taking other actions
admittance
vsclearance
14 5.3

Permission to enter a place or join a group

is broader, applying to permission for actions beyond entry
allowance
vsclearance
  • Formal
4 3.4

Official permission to do something

is official authorization to proceed rather than a granted quota
O.K.
vsclearance
2.0

Permission from someone in charge to go ahead

is the standard formal approval used in official situations
outpass
vsclearance
  • Indian
8.2

A written pass that lets someone leave a place for a short time

is broader, applying to many kinds of official approvals

Antonyms

61 2.8

Refusing a request or saying something is not true

prohibition
  • Formal
48 4.4

An official rule that stops people from doing something

Compounds

A sale when a shop sells many items at low prices to make room for new stock

A shop event to sell old or extra items at low prices

How Authorized

mandate
  • Formal
160 5.3
authorization
  • Specialized
14 4.3
clearance
  • Formal
223 4.4
approval
  • Formal
400 1.6
permission
1.0

Surface Forms

clearance singular
clearances plural

Morphology

clearance = clear (semi-transparent) = clear + ance

The noun is formed from the verb 'to clear' (to remove objections/grant approval), but the institutional sense 'official permission' is a specialized extension that may not be obvious to all learners.

Etymology

Clearance comes from clear meaning 'to make free' or 'to remove doubt', so officials can 'clear' a person or goods to go. That's why clearance also means official permission to proceed or enter a place.