clarify

Clarify is a verb with several related meanings. Primarily, it means to make something easier to understand by removing ambiguity or by providing more precise information. It can also mean to explain something in a way that reduces confusion, or to state something more clearly. A related sense in science and cooking is to make a liquid transparent by removing solids or impurities.

Origin and forms: The word comes from the Latin clarus, meaning clear, combined with the suffix -facere, to make. The noun form is clarification, and the adjective clear is often used in place of clarify in everyday speech. Pronunciation commonly rendered as /ˈklær.ɪ.faɪ/ in English.

In practice, clarification occurs in education, journalism, and governance when instructions or statements are ambiguous and require explanation or elaboration. In culinary contexts, clarification refers to processes such as skim or filter fats, or fining liquids to achieve a clean appearance. In law and business, clarification statements define terms and resolve potential misunderstandings to ensure compliance and accuracy.