Clearer

How to spell clearer

7 letters · 2 syllables

How to pronounce clearer

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does clearer mean?

1. adjectiveMore easy to see, hear, or understand than something else; more transparent or free of obstruction.

Clearer in a sentence

• The second draft of the report was far clearer than the first.

• After cleaning the windscreen, the view of the road ahead became much clearer.

Where does clearer come from?

Language of origin: Latin

The base word clear came into English in the 1200s from the Old French cler, which in turn descended from the Latin clarus, meaning 'bright', 'shining', or 'distinct'. The same Latin clarus gives us 'clarity', 'declare', and the musical term 'clarion', all carrying the idea of something bright and unmistakable. The comparative form clearer is simply clear with the native English suffix -er attached, the same ending that turns 'bright' into 'brighter'. Because clear already ends in r, learners sometimes hesitate over how many r letters the comparative needs, but the rule is straightforward: keep the whole word clear and add -er, giving a tidy double pattern of clear plus er.

How the word is built

• clear (free, bright, easy to see)
• -er (comparative suffix)