clearinghouse

noun

clear·​ing·​house ˈklir-iŋ-ˌhau̇s How to pronounce clearinghouse (audio)
1
: an establishment maintained by banks for settling mutual claims and accounts
2
: a central agency for the collection, classification, and distribution especially of information
broadly : an informal channel for distributing information or assistance

Examples of clearinghouse in a Sentence

an online clearinghouse for information on museums around the world
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Planta is an app that serves as a central clearinghouse for your houseplants and their care needs. — Kat Merck, Wired News, 14 June 2026 Under the law, Citizens is directed to set up a clearinghouse to move its condo and commercial policies into the private market. — Gray Rohrer, Miami Herald, 17 June 2026 Massachusetts, for example, created a climate data clearinghouse to make research and data widely available. — David Boutt, The Conversation, 26 May 2026 The new special protective services unit would fall under the State Patrol and act as a clearinghouse for security for the Legislature, from coordinating the personnel to assessing threats. — Caroline Cummings, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for clearinghouse

Word History

First Known Use

1792, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of clearinghouse was in 1792

Rhymes for clearinghouse

See All Rhymes for clearinghouse

Browse Nearby Words

clearing bath
clearinghouse
clearinghouse agent
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Clearinghouse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clearinghouse. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

clearinghouse

noun
clear·​ing·​house -ˌhau̇s How to pronounce clearinghouse (audio)
1
: an institution run by banks for the exchanging of checks and claims
2
: a central agency for collecting and giving out information

Legal Definition

clearinghouse

noun
clear·​ing·​house ˈklir-iŋ-ˌhau̇s How to pronounce clearinghouse (audio)
: an institution that arranges for payment of checks owed by one bank to another

More from Merriam-Webster on clearinghouse

Nglish: Translation of clearinghouse for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about clearinghouse

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