Types

Clarifications generally fall into four categories.

Broader Interpretation

Polymarket may interpret market rules more broadly than traders expected, using official sources or practical reasoning to cover ambiguous cases.

Example: In US–China trade deal before June?, relations between Trump and Xi were strained, and a deal seemed unlikely. Polymarket clarified that the reciprocal lowering of tariffs by both countries would qualify as a trade deal.

Narrowed Scope

Polymarket may narrow the meaning of vague terms in a market question, even if it goes against common assumptions. This limits the events that can resolve the market.

Example: In Trump cabinet member out before July?, traders disagreed over whether Rep. Mike Waltz's resignation from the House would qualify. The dispute centered on whether he was considered a cabinet member. Polymarket clarified that cabinet-level positions include only those listed on the White House's official site, and therefore Waltz's resignation did not qualify.

Rule Adjustment

A clarification may update unclear rules or fix gaps that were not anticipated when the market was created. It can also address factual uncertainties or technicalities, making a direct call on whether an event qualifies.

Example: In Astronomer Divorce Parlay, the market asked whether both Astronomer's CEO and the head of HR would divorce. Polymarket clarified that if Cabot was unmarried at the time the market was created, it would count as satisfying the Cabot part of the parlay.

Deference to Oracle

In some cases, Polymarket may choose to leave the final decision to the Oracle rather than issue a specific judgment. This helps preserve Oracle independence and maintain a clear separation between guidance and resolution.

Polymarket typically does this in one of two ways:

By not issuing a clarification

Polymarket may decline to clarify even when many users request one. This can happen by pre-announcing a possible clarification and then not following up, or by providing no announcement at all. In these cases, Polymarket leaves the decision to the Oracle.

Example: On July 1, Polymarket pre-announced a possible clarification in the Will Zelenskyy wear a suit before July? market but ultimately never followed up with a clarification.

By issuing a precedent-based clarification

Instead of making a direct judgment, Polymarket may reference a resolution principle or past example, leaving it to the Oracle to apply that standard to the current situation.

Example: In Thailand strikes Cambodia by Friday?, Polymarket issued a precedent-based clarification to guide the Oracle without ruling on whether a particular event qualified.