clause

  noun
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\ ˈklȯz  \
Definition of clause
1: a group of words containing a subject and predicate and functioning as
a member of a complex (see COMPLEX ENTRY 2 SENSE 1B(2)) or
compound (see COMPOUND ENTRY 2 SENSE 3B) sentenceThe
sentence "When it rained they went inside" consists of two clauses:
"when it rained" and "they went inside."
2: a separate section of a discourse (see DISCOURSE ENTRY 1 SENSE
2) or writingspecifically : a distinct article in a formal documenta clause in
a contract
Examples of clause in a Sentence
 The sentence “When it rained they went inside” consists of two clauses:
“when it rained” and “they went inside.” a clause in a will
Recent Examples on the WebAs Jeremy Pelzer reports, the suit claims
the prison policy violates the Ohio Constitution’s equal
protection clause  and guidance from Attorney General Dave Yost that the
government can’t garnish any money from stimulus checks.— cleveland,
"Ohio infrastructure gets low grade in White House report: Capitol Letter," 13 Apr.
2021Over at Reason, law professor Ilya Somin noted last August that the
Connecticut law is riddled with loopholes, including a broad good-faith
exemption and a clause  that requires the state to pay out damages
instead of the officer who was sued.— Matt Ford, The New Republic, "Are States
Really Abolishing Qualified Immunity for Cops? Not Exactly.," 13 Apr. 2021
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect
current usage of the word 'clause.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion
of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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First Known Use of clause

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
History and Etymology for clause
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin clausa close of a
rhetorical period, from Latin, feminine of clausus, past participle
of claudere to close — more at CLOSE ENTRY 1
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Time Traveler for clause

The first known use of clause was in the 13th century

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From the Editors at Merriam-Webster

8 Grammar Terms You Used to Know, But...

Dictionary Entries near clause

Claudius II
claught
clausal
clause
Clausewitz
Clausilia
Clausiliidae
See More Nearby Entries 

Phrases Related to clause

coordinate clause
dependent clause
escape clause
independent clause
main clause
subordinate clause
Statistics for clause
Last Updated

25 Apr 2021
Look-up Popularity
Top 1% of words
Cite this Entry
“Clause.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster,
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clause. Accessed 25 Apr.
2021.
Style: MLA

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More Definitions for clause

clause
  noun
English Language Learners Definition of clause
grammar  : a part of a sentence that has its own subject and verb
: a separate part of a legal document
See the full definition for clause in the English Language Learners
Dictionary

clause
  noun
\ ˈklȯz  \
Kids Definition of clause
1: a separate part of a document (as a will)
2: a group of words having its own subject and predicateThe sentence
“When it rained they went inside” is made up of two clauses: “when it
rained” and “they went inside.”

clause
  noun
\ ˈklȯz  \
Legal Definition of clause
: a distinct section of a writingspecifically : a distinct article, stipulation, or
proviso in a formal documenta no-strike clause in the collective
bargaining agreement
Other Words from clause
clausal \ ˈklȯ-zəl  \ adjective
More from Merriam-Webster on clause
Nglish: Translation of clause for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of clause for Arabic Speakers
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