clearer

Clearer is the comparative form of the adjective clear, describing something that has greater transparency, ease of understanding, or freedom from obstruction than another. It can apply to physical properties such as water or air, sensory impressions like sound, or abstract qualities such as explanations, plans, or decisions. For example, a clearer explanation makes a concept easier to grasp.

As a noun, clearer can denote a person or entity that clears something, especially in financial contexts. In investment and banking, a clearer is a party that participates in clearing—the process of reconciling and settling trades and obligations between counterparties. Clearers may operate as clearing members, agents, or through a clearinghouse or central counterparty, and they help reduce counterparty risk by netting and guaranteeing settlement.

Etymology-wise, the word is formed from the base adjective clear with the agentive suffix -er, used to indicate a person or thing associated with the action or property of the root word.

Usage notes include that the standard comparative form of clear is clearer; in most contexts, “clearer” is preferred to “more clear,” though both forms may appear when emphasis on lack of obscurity or ambiguity is intended. Related terms include clarity, clearly, and clearance, as well as more specialized terms like clearing and clearinghouse in financial contexts.

See also: Clear, Clarity, Clearer (finance), Clearinghouse, Clearing (finance).