explanation

• explaination (misspelling or obsolete spelling)

From Latin explanatio (“an explanation, interpretation”), from explanare (“explain”); see explain. Morphologically explain +‎ -ation. Displaced native Old English racu.

• IPA^(key): /ˌɛkspləˈneɪʃən/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -eɪʃən

explanation (countable and uncountable, plural explanations)

1. The act or process of explaining.

   The explanation was long and drawn-out.

2. Something that explains or makes understandable.

   An explanation for the UFO sightings was easily found.

   • 1949, F. A. Hayek, “The Intellectuals and Socialism”, in University of Chicago Law Review, volume 16, number 3, Chicago: University of Chicago, →DOI, page 427:

     The socialist will, of course, see in this merely a proof that the more intelligent person is today bound to become a socialist. But this is far from being the necessary or even the most likely explanation.

3. A resolution of disputed points pursuant to discussion; a mutual clarification of disputed points; reconciliation.
   • 1815, Jane Austen, Emma, volume III, chapter 3:

     This little explanation with Mr. Knightley gave Emma considerable pleasure.

• (act or process of explaining): clarification; elucidation; elaboration; explaining; explication; femsplaining (pej., particularly by a feminist to a man); mansplaining, mansplanation (pej., particularly by a man to a woman)

• explain
• explanatory
• explicative
• explicator
• explicatory

• “explanation”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin E[li] Smith, editors (1911), “explanation”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC.