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This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.
[ ek-spluh—ney-shuhn ]
/ ˌɛk spləˈneɪ ʃən /
This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.
noun
something that explains; a statement made to clarify something and make it understandable; exposition: an explanation of a poem.
a meaning or interpretation: to find an explanation for a mystery.
a mutual declaration of the meaning of words spoken, actions, motives, etc., with a view to adjusting a misunderstanding or reconciling differences: After a long and emotional explanation they were friends again.
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Origin of explanation
1350–1400; Middle English explanacioun<Latin explānātiōn- (stem of explānātiō), equivalent to explānāt(us) (see explanate) + -iōn--ion
OTHER WORDS FROM explanation
o·ver·ex·pla·na·tion, nounpre·ex·pla·na·tion, nounre·ex·pla·na·tion, noun
Words nearby explanation
explain, explain away, explainer, explain oneself, explanate, explanation, explanatory, explant, explement, explementary angle, expletive
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Words related to explanation
account, answer, cause, comment, commentary, confession, definition, description, evidence, example, excuse, expression, information, interpretation, justification, meaning, motive, note, report, resolution
How to use explanation in a sentence
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They may be accurate, or there may be a reasonable explanation for everything.
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Now, there could be several explanations for the absences this year.
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McIlroy told reporters the PGA Tour was informed Monday that a course volunteer acknowledged stepping on his ball while looking for it in the rough, providing an explanation of how the ball might have become embedded after taking a bounce.
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Bill Murray is Bill Murray — the best possible explanation for why he was nominated for “On the Rocks,” but not co-star Rashida Jones.
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In explanation, administrators have pointed to the nation’s inability to contain the coronavirus pandemic, but another factor may have been outspoken advocacy from teachers’ associations, which have pushed for remote learning from the start.
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Have you looked around the American Dental Association website for an explanation of how fluoridation actually works?
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This was later repurposed in Europe as an explanation for racial superiority, and the term “Aryan” came to define a white race.
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That explanation is believable…but increasingly less so when you hear Jay talk about the nature of his relationship with Adnan.
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Pakistani security officials offer a more nuanced explanation.
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The deacon said he is demanding an explanation from Williams.
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«There is no more war,» Brion translated for Ulv, realizing that the Disan had understood nothing of the explanation.
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And yet, the acknowledged state of things here is a grave fact which challenges inquiry and demands explanation.
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The explanation of his mysterious earlier moods offered itself with a clarity that was ghastly.
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If you were to have a frank explanation with her, Blanche would very soon throw Jim Crow out of the window.
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«But it was n’t a lie,» Punch would begin, charging into a laboured explanation that landed him more hopelessly in the mire.
British Dictionary definitions for explanation
noun
the act or process of explaining
a statement or occurrence that explains
a clarification of disputed terms or points; reconciliation
Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Examples of explanation
explanation
This can best be done in clearly situated case studies, which yield qualitative findings that can then be examined for possible explanations and further enquiry.
One cannot dismiss a purely historical explanation, however.
It is not clear how dynamical systems serve as a psychological explanation as opposed to a complex description of behavior.
Again, it is difficult to conceive of an explanation of this replay of activity patterns that does not involve memory consolidation, transfer, or integration.
One possible explanation for the differing results may have to do with the fact that we were requesting summary instead of individual patient data.
In this context, the need for more harmonization in the explanation and application of the directives at a national level was stressed.
An explanation for these differences will require further investigations, but one plausible interpretation may be related to teaching policy.
The economic explanation for the timber market effects of a negative stock shock is not difficult to see.
Even so, an explanation why just these symptoms co-occur would be welcome.
Therefore, the psychiatric conditions were not regarded as a plausible explanation of the symptoms.
There are at least three alternative explanations for our results other than evidence of a transmission cost to inducing symptoms.
But if both processes are operating, what explanation provides a synthesis?
A theoretical explanation of these unexpected findings seems in order.
Here, then, an alternative explanation of the equitable man is required.
Restricting explanation to the actual microcausal chain misses this structural fact.
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
Collocations with explanation
These are words often used in combination with explanation.
Click on a collocation to see more examples of it.
acceptable explanation
For the difference between the two populations their genetic difference is not an acceptable explanation.
accepted explanation
The husband, who had dementia, was deaf, which provided the accepted explanation for his lack of communication with other group members.
adequate explanation
However, we do not regard the differences in input source to be an adequate explanation of the phenomenological distinction between waking and dreaming.
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
Other forms: explanations
An explanation is a statement about how or why something is the way it is. If you’re failing math, you’d better come up with a good explanation to give to your parents.
Explanation is from the same Latin word as explain: explanare, which means make clear. Because explanation and explain are so closely related, people often try to shoehorn an extra i into the spelling of explanation. Don’t. You might think that explanation has the odd spelling, but it is really the more regular of the two because there is no i in explanare.
Definitions of explanation
-
noun
the act of explaining; making something plain or intelligible
“I heard his
explanation of the accident”see moresee less-
types:
-
elucidation
an act of explaining that serves to clear up and cast light on
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explication
the act of making clear or removing obscurity from the meaning of a word or symbol or expression etc.
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type of:
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speech act
the use of language to perform some act
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elucidation
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noun
a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.
“the
explanation was very simple”-
synonyms:
account
see moresee less-
types:
- show 34 types…
- hide 34 types…
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simplification
an explanation that omits superfluous details and reduces complexity
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accounting
a convincing explanation that reveals basic causes
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reason
an explanation of the cause of some phenomenon
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justification
a statement in explanation of some action or belief
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exposition
an account that sets forth the meaning or intent of a writing or discourse
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explication
a detailed explanation of the meaning of something
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gloss, rubric
an explanation or definition of an obscure word in a text
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derivation, deriving, etymologizing
(historical linguistics) an explanation of the historical origins of a word or phrase
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definition
a concise explanation of the meaning of a word or phrase or symbol
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interpretation
an explanation that results from interpreting something
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walk-through
a thorough explanation (usually accompanied by a demonstration) of each step in a procedure or process
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oversimplification, simplism
a simplification that goes too far (to the point of misrepresentation)
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cause, grounds, reason
a justification for something existing or happening
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defence, defense, vindication
the justification for some act or belief
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exposition, expounding
a systematic interpretation or explanation (usually written) of a specific topic
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construal
an interpretation of the meaning of something; the act of construing
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contextual definition
a definition in which the term is used by embedding it in a larger expression containing its explanation
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dictionary definition
a definition that reports the standard uses of a word or phrase or symbol
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explicit definition
a definition that gives an exact equivalent of the term defined
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ostensive definition
a definition that points out or exhibits instances of the term defined
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recursive definition
(mathematics) a definition of a function from which values of the function can be calculated in a finite number of steps
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redefinition
the act of giving a new definition
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stipulative definition
a definition that is stipulated by someone and that is not a standard usage
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clarification, elucidation, illumination
an interpretation that removes obstacles to understanding
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eisegesis
personal interpretation of a text (especially of the Bible) using your own ideas
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exegesis
an explanation or critical interpretation (especially of the Bible)
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ijtihad
the endeavor of a Moslem scholar to derive a rule of divine law from the Koran and Hadith without relying on the views of other scholars; by the end of the 10th century theologians decided that debate on such matters would be closed and Muslim theology and law were frozen
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literal interpretation
an interpretation based on the exact wording
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version
an interpretation of a matter from a particular viewpoint
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reading
a particular interpretation or performance
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construction, twist
an interpretation of a text or action
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reconstruction
an interpretation formed by piecing together bits of evidence
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popularisation, popularization
an interpretation that easily understandable and acceptable
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misinterpretation, mistaking, misunderstanding
putting the wrong interpretation on
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type of:
-
statement
a message that is stated or declared; a communication (oral or written) setting forth particulars or facts etc
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noun
thought that makes something comprehensible
see moresee less-
types:
- show 18 types…
- hide 18 types…
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interpretation, interpreting, rendering, rendition
an explanation of something that is not immediately obvious
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principle, rationale
(law) an explanation of the fundamental reasons (especially an explanation of the working of some device in terms of laws of nature)
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key
something crucial for explaining
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rationalisation, rationalization
the cognitive process of making something seem consistent with or based on reason
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theory
a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena
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broad interpretation, judicial activism
an interpretation of the U.S. constitution holding that the spirit of the times and the needs of the nation can legitimately influence judicial decisions (particularly decisions of the Supreme Court)
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reductionism
a theory that all complex systems can be completely understood in terms of their components
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raison d’etre
the reason why something exists
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blastogenesis
theory that inherited characteristics are transmitted by germ plasm
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preformation, theory of preformation
a theory (popular in the 18th century and now discredited) that an individual develops by simple enlargement of a tiny fully formed organism (a homunculus) that exists in the germ cell
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scientific theory
a theory that explains scientific observations
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field theory
(physics) a theory that explains a physical phenomenon in terms of a field and the manner in which it interacts with matter or with other fields
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economic theory
(economics) a theory of commercial activities (such as the production and consumption of goods)
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atomic theory, atomism, atomist theory, atomistic theory
(chemistry) any theory in which all matter is composed of tiny discrete finite indivisible indestructible particles
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holism, holistic theory
the theory that the parts of any whole cannot exist and cannot be understood except in their relation to the whole
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dialectics
a rationale for dialectical materialism based on change through the conflict of opposing forces
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structural sociology, structuralism
a sociological theory based on the premise that society comes before individuals
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structural anthropology, structuralism
an anthropological theory that there are unobservable social structures that generate observable social phenomena
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type of:
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cerebration, intellection, mentation, thinking, thought, thought process
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘explanation’.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
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Friendship is the complete explanation of what a Cheetah Girl is — if you have that true friendship, you can conquer anything you want.
Sabrina Bryan
PRONUNCIATION OF EXPLANATION
GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF EXPLANATION
Explanation is a noun.
A noun is a type of word the meaning of which determines reality. Nouns provide the names for all things: people, objects, sensations, feelings, etc.
WHAT DOES EXPLANATION MEAN IN ENGLISH?
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 several «purposes» for empirical research. Explanation is a way to uncover new knowledge, and to report relationships among different aspects of studied phenomena. Explanation attempts to answer the «why» question. Explanations have varied explanatory power. The formal hypothesis is the theoretical tool used to verify explanation in empirical research.
Definition of explanation in the English dictionary
The first definition of explanation in the dictionary is the act or process of explaining. Other definition of explanation is a statement or occurrence that explains. Explanation is also a clarification of disputed terms or points; reconciliation.
WORDS THAT RHYME WITH EXPLANATION
Synonyms and antonyms of explanation in the English dictionary of synonyms
SYNONYMS OF «EXPLANATION»
The following words have a similar or identical meaning as «explanation» and belong to the same grammatical category.
Translation of «explanation» into 25 languages
TRANSLATION OF EXPLANATION
Find out the translation of explanation to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.
The translations of explanation from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «explanation» in English.
Translator English — Chinese
解释
1,325 millions of speakers
Translator English — Spanish
explicación
570 millions of speakers
Translator English — Hindi
स्पष्टीकरण
380 millions of speakers
Translator English — Arabic
شَرْح
280 millions of speakers
Translator English — Russian
объяснение
278 millions of speakers
Translator English — Portuguese
explicação
270 millions of speakers
Translator English — Bengali
ব্যাখ্যা
260 millions of speakers
Translator English — French
explication
220 millions of speakers
Translator English — Malay
Penjelasan
190 millions of speakers
Translator English — German
Erklärung
180 millions of speakers
Translator English — Japanese
説明
130 millions of speakers
Translator English — Korean
설명
85 millions of speakers
Translator English — Javanese
Panjelasan
85 millions of speakers
Translator English — Vietnamese
lời giải thích
80 millions of speakers
Translator English — Tamil
விளக்கம்
75 millions of speakers
Translator English — Marathi
स्पष्टीकरण
75 millions of speakers
Translator English — Turkish
açıklama
70 millions of speakers
Translator English — Italian
spiegazione
65 millions of speakers
Translator English — Polish
objaśnienie
50 millions of speakers
Translator English — Ukrainian
пояснення
40 millions of speakers
Translator English — Romanian
explicație
30 millions of speakers
Translator English — Greek
εξήγηση
15 millions of speakers
Translator English — Afrikaans
verduideliking
14 millions of speakers
Translator English — Swedish
förklaring
10 millions of speakers
Translator English — Norwegian
forklaring
5 millions of speakers
Trends of use of explanation
TENDENCIES OF USE OF THE TERM «EXPLANATION»
The term «explanation» is very widely used and occupies the 7.237 position in our list of most widely used terms in the English dictionary.
FREQUENCY
Very widely used
The map shown above gives the frequency of use of the term «explanation» in the different countries.
Principal search tendencies and common uses of explanation
List of principal searches undertaken by users to access our English online dictionary and most widely used expressions with the word «explanation».
FREQUENCY OF USE OF THE TERM «EXPLANATION» OVER TIME
The graph expresses the annual evolution of the frequency of use of the word «explanation» during the past 500 years. Its implementation is based on analysing how often the term «explanation» appears in digitalised printed sources in English between the year 1500 and the present day.
Examples of use in the English literature, quotes and news about explanation
10 QUOTES WITH «EXPLANATION»
Famous quotes and sentences with the word explanation.
There is no scientific explanation for the fact that while my body lay in coma, my mind — my conscious, inner self — was alive and well.
To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.
The difference between a tool and a machine is not capable of very precise distinction; nor is it necessary, in a popular explanation of those terms, to limit very strictly their acceptation.
The five steps in teaching an employee new skills are preparation, explanation, showing, observation and supervision.
Stupidity trumps Machiavelli almost every time when you are looking for an explanation.
You don’t need an explanation for everything, Recognize that there are such things as miracles — events for which there are no ready explanations. Later knowledge may explain those events quite easily.
Friendship is the complete explanation of what a Cheetah Girl is — if you have that true friendship, you can conquer anything you want.
Just as I know the usual rules of law enforcement, I also know the exceptions and invoke those frequently. I don’t feel a need to bog the reader down with an explanation of why the procedures are realistic, as long as I know that there is, in fact, an explanation.
The first rule of world-building is available physics, which basically means that if you want it to feel real, it has to follow the same rules as this world, from gravity to how human behaviour works. If you have a fantasy element that doesn’t obey the laws of physics, make sure that it has a fantasy explanation.
I kind of think that if you show conspiracy theorists a photo of the dead Bin Laden they will come up with an explanation for why it’s really a Photoshopped picture of Bin Laden asleep. Or his dead cousin Fred. Donald Trump apparently believes that Bin Laden is dead, so that ought to be enough for the Middle East.
10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «EXPLANATION»
Discover the use of explanation in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to explanation and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.
1
The Art of Explanation: Making your Ideas, Products, and …
The Art of Explanation is your invitation to become an explanation specialist and see why explanation is now a fundamental skill for professionals. Become an explanation specialist You’ve done the hard work.
2
Explanation and Understanding
He suggested that human action could not be explained causally by scientific or ‘natural’ laws, but had to be understood ‘intentionally’—a concept connected with wants and beliefs developed in a social and cultural context.»—Daily …
Georg Henrik von Wright, 2004
3
The Art of Explanation: Making your Ideas, Products, and …
The Art of Explanation is your invitation to become an explanation specialist and see why explanation is now a fundamental skill for professionals. Become an explanation specialist You’ve done the hard work.
4
Statistical Explanation and Statistical Relevance
In this main essay of this book, Wesley Salmon offers a solution to scientific explanation based on the concept of statistical relevance (the S-R model). In this vein, the other two essays herein discuss “Statistical Relevance vs.
Edmondson clarifies Buckminster Fuller’s synergetic geometry in conventional language and mathematics and illuminates his effort to employ synergetics as a strategy for human survival.
6
Inference to the Best Explanation
This publication is an unrivalled exposition of a theory of particular interest to students both of epistemology and the philosophy of science.
7
The Nature of Explanation
In his only complete work of any length, Kenneth Craik considers thought as a term for the conscious working of a highly complex machine.
8
Explanation and Cognition
These essays draw on work in the history and philosophy of science, the philosophy ofmind and language, the development of concepts in children, conceptual change in adults, andreasoning in human and artificial systems.
Frank C. Keil, Robert Andrew Wilson, 2000
9
The Explanation of Social Action
The Explanation of Social Action is a critique of the conventional understanding of methods of explanation in the social sciences.
10
Why Love Hurts: A Sociological Explanation
This book does to love what Marx did to commodities: it shows that it is shaped by social relations and institutions and that it circulates in a marketplace of unequal actors.
10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «EXPLANATION»
Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term explanation is used in the context of the following news items.
Judge in Irish nanny case calls for baby autopsy explanation
A judge in the case of Irish nanny Aisling Brady McCarthy told prosecutors she wants to speak with the attorney for the Massachusetts Medical … «Irish Times, Jul 15»
Knox County wants explanation from Rural Metro
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) — In the letter from Knox County Purchasing Director Hugh Holt to Rural Metro, Holt asks for an explanation and a … «Local 8 Now, Jul 15»
Trooper: Driver has no explanation for I-75 crash
“She couldn’t give me an explanation,” Patenaude said, of how the woman crashed her white Ford Escape. The driver was taken to Miami … «WHIO, Jul 15»
Editorial: El Paso city government owes full explanation on botched …
That’s not an acceptable explanation. Leeser sits on the El Paso Metropolitan Planning Organization, which reviews funding requests. «El Paso Times, Jul 15»
Suicide cries out for explanation of the inexplicable
Those of us who remain living, however, will never find an explanation that brings us any real measure of peace. It simply should never have … «Chicago Tribune, Jul 15»
Migraine, Heart Disease Link: No Genetic Explanation
The link between migraine and heart disease cannot be explained by known shared gene variations, a new study shows. «The results do not … «Medscape, Jul 15»
Ubisoft’s Explanation for Digital Console Games Costing More than …
In a post-earnings call Q&A session, Ubisoft offered something of an explanation, at least for their own titles. «Digital is more reactive than what … «NZGamer.com, Jul 15»
NYSE Explanation For Outage
«On Tuesday evening, the NYSE began the rollout of a software release in preparation for the July 11 industry test of the upcoming SIP … «Benzinga, Jul 15»
Tigers’ Kinsler has no explanation for ‘frustrating’ first half
It’s just been, for want of a better explanation, the damnedest season for him thus far. «It’s been – weird. For sure,» he said. Twitter @cmccosky. «The Detroit News, Jul 15»
Jackley releases explanation for medical marijuana measure
PIERRE – Attorney General Marty Jackley has released an explanation for an initiated measure to legalize the possession of 1 ounce or less of … «Sioux Falls Argus Leader, Jul 15»
REFERENCE
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Discover all that is hidden in the words on 
объяснение, разъяснение, толкование, выяснение, оправдание
существительное ↓
- объяснение; пояснение; разъяснение
the explanation of difficulties — разъяснение трудностей 
after repeated explanations — после неоднократных объяснений
by way of explanation — в пояснение, для ясности
he said a few words by way of explanation — он коротко пояснил свою мысль
it needs no explanation that … — нет нужды пояснять, что …
- объяснение, разговор, выяснение отношений
they had an explanation — они объяснились между собой, между ними произошло объяснение
- объяснение, оправдание
legal explanation — юридическое обоснование
satisfactory explanation — удовлетворительное объяснение
in explanation of his conduct — в оправдание своего поведения
an explanation of their delay was demanded — от них потребовали объяснения причин задержки
- толкование, истолкование
differing explanations — разные толкования
the explanation proved to be erroneous — толкование оказалось ошибочным
Мои примеры
Словосочетания
The explanation was concise, even elliptical to the verge of obscurity. — Объяснение было немногословным, даже слишком кратким, на грани неясности.
getting near to the true explanation — приближение к истинному объяснению
getting nearer to the true explanation — приближение к истинному объяснению
to demand an explanation — потребовать объяснений
to elicit an explanation from smb. — добиться объяснения от кого-л.
to give / offer / provide an explanation for smth. — давать объяснение чему-л.
to accept an explanation — принимать объяснение
simple explanation — простое объяснение
unsatisfactory explanation — неудовлетворительное, невнятное объяснение
more plausible explanation — более правдоподобное объяснение
shallow explanation — поверхностное объяснение
unintelligible explanation — непонятное объяснение
demand an explanation — потребовать объяснения
Примеры с переводом
I demand an explanation.
Я требую объяснения.
She left the room without explanation.
Она покинула комнату без объяснений.
I don’t buy that explanation.
Это объяснение не кажется мне убедительным.
There’s probably a perfectly simple explanation for all this.
Этому, вероятно, есть совершенно простое объяснение.
Time is lacking for a full explanation.
На подробное объяснение не хватает времени.
Could you give me a quick explanation of how it works?
Не могли бы вы быстро объяснить, как это работает?
Her explanation did not clarify matters much.
Её объяснение мало что прояснило.
ещё 23 примера свернуть
Примеры, ожидающие перевода
I heard his explanation of the accident 
His explanation has the ring of truth.
I was none the wiser after his explanation.
Для того чтобы добавить вариант перевода, кликните по иконке ☰, напротив примера.
Формы слова
noun
ед. ч.(singular): explanation
мн. ч.(plural): explanations