clause

American  

[klawz] / klɔz /

noun

1. Grammar. a syntactic construction containing a subject and predicate and forming part of a sentence or constituting a whole simple sentence.

2. a distinct article or provision in a contract, treaty, will, or other formal or legal written document.

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clause British  

/ klɔːz /

noun

1. grammar a group of words, consisting of a subject and a predicate including a finite verb, that does not necessarily constitute a sentence See also main clause subordinate clause coordinate clause

2. a section of a legal document such as a contract, will, or draft statute

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clause Cultural  

1. A group of words in a sentence that contains a subject and predicate. (See dependent clause and independent clause.)

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Other Word Forms

• clausal adjective
• subclausal adjective
• subclause noun

Etymology

Origin of clause

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English claus(e), from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin clausa, back formation from Latin clausula clausula

Explanation

A clause is a group of words with a subject and verb. That kind of clause is handy when talking about grammar. Another kind of clause is a provision or stipulation in a legal contract. Clause is a noun that comes from the old French clause, which, if we trace it way back, comes from the Latin clausula, “the end, a closing termination.” Around 1300, the “ending” implication of the word began to fade and was replaced by “article or section of a text.” In the grammatical sense, every sentence must have at least one independent clause. And in the legal sense, documents like prenuptial agreements or job contract often contain clauses.

Example Sentences

CBS is up first, because of a recent change-in-ownership clause.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

If so, does their agreement have a “don’t ask, don’t tell” clause, or is your co-worker being asked to give details on the who, when, or how?

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

And if your husband’s pension has no survivor clause, consider a life-insurance policy to help fill that gap.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 4, 2026

Congress, he reminded both Sauer and Wang, enshrined the citizenship clause into federal law in 1940 and 1952.

From Slate • Apr. 1, 2026

It can be followed by a clause that starts with who.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner

Related Words

• article
• paragraph
• passage
• provision
• requirement
• section
• specification
• stipulation