Origin: Latin suffix -ance
Clearance has 4 different meanings across 1 category:
the distance by which one thing clears another; the space between them
"The pilot checked that there was sufficient clearance above the clouds before beginning descent."
The act of clearing or something (such as a space) cleared
"After the heavy furniture was removed, we finally had enough clearance to move the dining table into the living room."
In plain English: Clearance is permission to go through or enter a place after it has been checked for security.
"The pilot received clearance to land before touching down on the runway."
Usage: Use clearance to describe the process of removing obstacles from an area or the official permission required to proceed with a specific action. It refers to both the physical act of making space available and the bureaucratic approval needed for travel or importation.
Clearance comes from combining the word clear with the suffix -ance. It originally referred to the act of making something free from obstructions or removing unwanted items.