1
: a group of words containing a subject and predicate and functioning as a member of a complex (see complex entry 2 sense 1b(2)) or compound (see compound entry 3 sense 3b) sentence
The sentence "When it rained they went inside" consists of two clauses: "when it rained" and "they went inside."
2
: a separate section of a discourse (see discourse entry 1 sense 2) or writing
specifically
: a distinct article in a formal document
a clause in a contract
Examples of clause in a Sentence
The sentence “When it rained they went inside” consists of two clauses: “when it rained” and “they went inside.”
a clause in a will
Recent Examples on the Web
He’s got an eight-team no-trade clause (per puckpedia.com).
—
Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 28 Jan. 2025
The lawsuit, filed by GLAD Law and the National Center for Lesbian Rights in a federal court in the District of Columbia, alleges that the executive order violates the equal protection clause of the Fifth Amendment.
—Kaelan Deese, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 28 Jan. 2025
The country’s best legal minds have long wrestled with how to balance the powers granted by the supremacy clause and the 10th Amendment.
—Claire B. Wofford, The Conversation, 27 Jan. 2025
In essence, the union-security clause describes union membership and the collection of union dues, paid by members, or representation fees, paid by non-member workers who are covered by the union’s contracts and represented by it in disputes.
—Judith Kohler, The Denver Post, 26 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for clause 
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Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 28 Jan. 2025
The lawsuit, filed by GLAD Law and the National Center for Lesbian Rights in a federal court in the District of Columbia, alleges that the executive order violates the equal protection clause of the Fifth Amendment.
—Kaelan Deese, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 28 Jan. 2025
The country’s best legal minds have long wrestled with how to balance the powers granted by the supremacy clause and the 10th Amendment.
—Claire B. Wofford, The Conversation, 27 Jan. 2025
In essence, the union-security clause describes union membership and the collection of union dues, paid by members, or representation fees, paid by non-member workers who are covered by the union’s contracts and represented by it in disputes.
—Judith Kohler, The Denver Post, 26 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for clause
Articles Related to clause
Dictionary Entries Near clause
Cite this Entry
“Clause.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clause. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
clause
noun1
: a separate distinct part of an article or document
a clause in a will
2
: a group of words having its own subject and predicate but forming only part of a compound or complex sentence (as "when it rained" or "they went inside" in the sentence "when it rained, they went inside")
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