He has a clause in his contract which entitles him to a percentage of the profits.
...a compromise document sprinkled with escape clauses.
...a complaint alleging a breach of clause 4 of the code.
Synonyms: section, condition, article, item More Synonyms of clause
2. countable noun
In grammar, a clause is a group of words containing a verb. Sentences contain one or more clauses. Thereare finite clauses and non-finite clauses.
3. See also main clause, relative clause, subordinate clause
English Easy Learning GrammarAdverbial clausesAdverbial clauses generally follow the main clause unless otherwise stated. The followingare the main types of adverbial clause: Time: sets the timing ... Read more
English Easy Learning GrammarConditional clausesConditional sentences consist of a main clause and a conditional clause (sometimescalled an if-clause). The conditional clause usually begins with if ... Read more
English Easy Learning GrammarSentences and clausesA clause is a group of words which contains a verb. The verb in a clause can be finite Use this pan for the pasta. He missed the turnoff. or non-finite. To ... Read more
clause in British English
(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
Derived forms
clausal (ˈclausal)
adjective
Word origin
C13: from Old French, from Medieval Latin clausa a closing (of a rhetorical period), back formation from Latin clausula, from claudere to close
clause in American English
(klɔz)
noun
1. Grammar
a group of words containing a subject and a finite verb, usually forming part ofa compound or complex sentence: clauses may be joined by parataxis (The house is secluded; you will like it), by modified parataxis (The house is secluded, and you will like it), and by hypotaxis (Becausethe house is secluded, you will like it)
see also dependent clause, independent clause
2.
a particular article, stipulation, or provision in a formal or legal document
Word origin
OFr < ML clausa, for L clausula, a closing (in legal use, section or clause) < clausus, pp. of claudere, to close2
Examples of 'clause' in a sentence
clause
There will be no release clause in the deal.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The relative pronoun here is the subject of the relative clause.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
An example is the supposed difference between that and which in a relative clause.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The case of the pronoun is then determined by the role that it plays in the relative clause.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The ratio of dependent clauses to sentences will vary from writer to writer.
Marius, Richard A Short Guide to Writing About History (1995)
Yet there may be an escape clause for the research council.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Change one independent clause into a dependent clause.
Bachmann, Susan (editor) & Barth, Melinda Between Worlds: A Reader, Rhetoric and Handbook (1995)
Which part of the following sentence is a relative clause?
The Sun (2016)
Many complexities made drafting the clauses very difficult.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The settlement also contained a gagging clause.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
It found the poster in breach of three clauses of the advertising code.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The entire paragraph contains four dependent clauses in nine sentences.
Marius, Richard A Short Guide to Writing About History (1995)
That commitment had no qualifications or escape clauses.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The reason is that the pronoun is introducing a relative clause.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It would be interesting to see whether they contained clauses saying their improved deals depended on goals.
The Sun (2008)
The pronoun is the subject of the relative clause.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
If the revised scheme still contains this clause it will be a travesty.
The Sun (2012)
The pronoun is not the object of the main clause but the subject of the relative clause.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
He said he did not know how many of the agreements contained gagging clauses.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
There is not thought to be a release clause in his new five-year deal.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
What's the point of a release clause if no one can know about it?
The Sun (2011)
That also means the release clause goes down to 3m.
The Sun (2011)
It's the last clause of this sentence that makes the difference.
Christianity Today (2000)
I drafted a clause to draw the sting of the religious speech crimes.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
If you think your writing is stiff and difficult to follow, count the dependent clauses in your sentences.
Marius, Richard A Short Guide to Writing About History (1995)
He has one other get-out clause.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
I see no reason why we cannot publish draft clauses for this early next year alongside our other pressing reforms.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
When this woman came to sign the deal, she insisted on a get-out clause of just one week.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
You don't suppose anyone is going to get killed in the rush for a player who has a 32million release clause.
The Sun (2015)
In other languages
clause
British English: clause /klɔːz/ NOUN
legal document A clause is a section of a legal document.
There is a clause in his contract about company cars.
American English: clause
Arabic: مَادَّة
Brazilian Portuguese: cláusula contrato
Chinese: 条款
Croatian: klauzula
Czech: klauzule
Danish: paragraf
Dutch: clausule
European Spanish: cláusula
Finnish: lakipykälä
French: clause
German: Klausel
Greek: ρήτρα
Italian: clausola
Japanese: 条項
Korean: 조항
Norwegian: klausul
Polish: klauzula
European Portuguese: cláusula contrato
Romanian: clauză
Russian: статья
Latin American Spanish: cláusula
Swedish: klausul
Thai: มาตรา
Turkish: madde yasa vb
Ukrainian: пункт
Vietnamese: điều khoản
British English: clause NOUN
in grammar In grammar, a clause is a group of words containing a verb.
American English: clause
Brazilian Portuguese: oração
Chinese: > 条款法律文件的
European Spanish: oración
French: proposition
German: Satz
Italian: proposizione
Japanese: 条項
Korean: 조항
European Portuguese: oração
Latin American Spanish: oración
All related terms of 'clause'
base clause
the initial element of a recursive definition , that defines the first element of the infinite sequence generated thereby
main clause
A main clause is a clause that can stand alone as a complete sentence. Compare → subordinate clause .
noun clause
a clause that fulfils the same function as a noun
stop clause
a clause by which a contract or other agreement may be terminated , esp. between theatrical producers and theater owners in whose agreements it is often stipulated that when weekly receipts fall below a certain minimum usually for two consecutive weeks , the production must vacate the theater
sub-clause
a subordinate section of a larger clause in a document, contract , etc
basket clause
an all-inclusive or comprehensive clause in a contract
escape clause
a clause in a contract freeing one of the parties from his or her obligations in certain circumstances
final clause
a clause expressing intention or purpose
object clause
the clause that acts as the object of a verb
saving clause
a clause which denotes a reservation or exception
sunset clause
a provision of a law that it will automatically be terminated after a fixed period unless it is extended by law
average clause
a clause in an insurance policy that distributes the insurance among several items, usually in proportion to their value
Delaney clause
an amendment to a 1958 Federal law, prohibiting the use of any food additive found to cause cancer in people or animals
hardship clause
a clause in a contract which covers unforeseen events that would make it more difficult for one party to complete the contract, and in which case offers alternative terms
penalty clause
a provision in a contract providing for a form of punishment , such as a fine or forfeit for not fulfilling the contract
relative clause
In grammar , a relative clause is a subordinate clause which specifies or gives information about a person or thing. Relative clauses come after a noun or pronoun and, in English, often begin with a relative pronoun such as 'who', 'which', or 'that'.
reported clause
A reported clause is a subordinate clause that indicates what someone said or thought. For example , in 'She said that she was hungry ', 'she was hungry' is a reported clause.
reserve clause
a condition in the contracts of professional baseball players, allowing team owners to extend expired contracts for one additional year
standard clause
a clause which is inserted as standard into certain types of contracts or agreements
arbitration clause
a clause in a contract laying down that disputes between the parties should be settled by arbitration
concessive clause
A concessive clause is a subordinate clause which refers to a situation that contrasts with the one described in the main clause. For example , in the sentence 'Although he was tired , he couldn't get to sleep ', the first clause is a concessive clause.
conscience clause
a clause in a law or contract exempting persons with moral scruples
coordinate clause
one of two or more clauses in a sentence having the same status and introduced by coordinating conjunctions
deductible clause
a clause in an insurance policy stipulating that the insured will be liable for a specified initial amount of each loss , injury , etc., and that the insurance company will be liable for any additional costs up to the insured amount
dependent clause
a clause that cannot function syntactically as a complete sentence by itself but has a nominal , adjectival, or adverbial function within a larger sentence; subordinate clause ( Ex .: She will visit us if she can. )
disability clause
(in life assurance policies ) a clause enabling a policyholder to cease payment of premiums without loss of coverage and often to receive a pension or indemnity if he or she becomes permanently disabled
disablement clause
(in life assurance policies) a clause enabling a policyholder to cease payment of premiums without loss of coverage and often to receive a pension or indemnity if he or she becomes permanently disabled
escalation clause
a clause in a contract stipulating an adjustment in wages , prices , etc, in the event of specified changes in conditions, such as a large rise in the cost of living or price of raw materials
escalator clause
a clause in a contract stipulating an adjustment in wages , prices , etc, in the event of specified changes in conditions, such as a large rise in the cost of living or price of raw materials
exclusion clause
(in a contract ) something that serves to limit liabilities
exemption clause
a clause in a contract that exempts one party from liability for something
franchise clause
a clause stipulating that the insured will be responsible for any loss not in excess of a stated amount, and the insurance company will be liable for full payment of the loss equaling or exceeding the amount up to the insured amount
grandfather clause
a clause in the constitutions of several Southern states that waived electoral literacy requirements for lineal descendants of people voting before 1867, thus ensuring the franchise for illiterate White people: declared unconstitutional in 1915
indemnity clause
a clause in a contract that commits one or both parties to indemnify any loss that arises out of the contract
independent clause
a main or coordinate clause
opt-out clause
a clause that permits signatories to a contract to opt out of particular provisions , or to terminate the contract early
recursion clause
a formula for determining the next term of a sequence from one or more of the preceding terms
reporting clause
A reporting clause is a clause which indicates that you are talking about what someone said or thought . For example , in 'She said that she was hungry ', 'She said' is a reporting clause.
restrictive clause
a relative clause that restricts the number of possible referents of its antecedent . The relative clause in Americans who live in New York is restrictive
safeguard clause
a clause in a contract, etc, that ensures the protection of something against problems, etc
subordinate clause
A subordinate clause is a clause in a sentence which adds to or completes the information given in the main clause. It cannot usually stand alone as a sentence. Compare → main clause .
acceleration clause
a clause in a contract specifying that certain obligations will become due immediately in the event of a breach of contract, etc
nonrestrictive clause
a relative clause that describes or supplements but is not essential in establishing the identity of the antecedent and is usually set off by commas in English. In This year, which has been dry, is bad for crops the clause which has been dry is a nonrestrictive clause
obsolescence clause
a clause in an insurance policy that takes account of the obsolescence of the item insured in order to lower the amount to be paid out in the event of a claim
price escalation clause
a clause in a contract allowing the seller to raise prices if the cost of inputs increases
price variation clause
a clause in a contract allowing the seller to vary the selling price under certain conditions
restrictive relative clause
a relative clause that restricts the number of possible referents of its antecedent . The relative clause in Americans who live in New York is restrictive