clearance
KLEER-unss
/ˈklɪərəns/
A sale in which a shop tries to sell all its remaining stock of a particular type of goods at very low prices.
Implies that the items are being sold to 'clear' space for new inventory, often representing the final and deepest discounts.
The story behind the word. Derived from the Middle English 'cleren,' meaning 'to make bright or free from obstruction.' In retail, a clearance sale is literally an attempt to 'clear' the floor of old stock to make room for the new season's arrivals.
Word relationships
- liquidation: A more formal term, often implying the entire business is closing.
- closeout: Specifically refers to selling off the remainder of a specific product line.
Commonly confused with
- sale: A sale is any price reduction; a clearance is specifically to empty out old stock.
Word family
- clear (verb): To remove items from a space.
Collocations
- clearance sale
- clearance rack
- final clearance
Example sentences
- "Don't miss our end-of-season clearance; all summer apparel is now seventy percent off!" A store announcement.
- "I usually wait for the clearance sale to buy high-quality coats at a fraction of their original price." A shopper's strategy.
Memory hook
A 'clearance' sale 'clears' the 'ants' (items) out of the store. Clear the shelves.
When not to use
Do not confuse with 'security clearance' (permission to see secret info) or 'ground clearance' (space under a car).
Fun facts
- Items on clearance are often 'final sale,' meaning they cannot be returned or exchanged.
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