diff --git a/policy/parser.go b/policy/parser.go
index 20042848..9c42e489 100644
--- a/policy/parser.go
+++ b/policy/parser.go
@@ -204,9 +204,10 @@ func NewMatch() *Match {
 // Match declares a condition (defaults to true) as well as an output or a rule.
 // Either the output or the rule field may be set, but not both.
 type Match struct {
-	condition ValueString
-	output    *ValueString
-	rule      *Rule
+	condition   ValueString
+	output      *ValueString
+	explanation *ValueString
+	rule        *Rule
 }
 
 // Condition returns the condition CEL expression.
@@ -227,6 +228,19 @@ func (m *Match) Output() ValueString {
 	return ValueString{}
 }
 
+// HasExplanation indicates whether the explanation field is set of the match.
+func (m *Match) HasExplanation() bool {
+	return m.explanation != nil
+}
+
+// Explanation returns the explanation expression, or empty expression if output is not set.
+func (m *Match) Explanation() ValueString {
+	if m.HasExplanation() {
+		return *m.explanation
+	}
+	return ValueString{}
+}
+
 // HasRule indicates whether the rule field is set on a match.
 func (m *Match) HasRule() bool {
 	return m.rule != nil
@@ -247,6 +261,11 @@ func (m *Match) SetOutput(o ValueString) {
 	m.output = &o
 }
 
+// SetExplanation sets the explanation expression for the match.
+func (m *Match) SetExplanation(e ValueString) {
+	m.explanation = &e
+}
+
 // SetRule sets the rule for the match.
 func (m *Match) SetRule(r *Rule) {
 	m.rule = r
@@ -633,10 +652,18 @@ func (p *parserImpl) ParseMatch(ctx ParserContext, policy *Policy, node *yaml.No
 				p.ReportErrorAtID(keyID, "only the rule or the output may be set")
 			}
 			m.SetOutput(ctx.NewString(val))
+		case "explanation":
+			if m.HasRule() {
+				p.ReportErrorAtID(keyID, "explanation can only be set on output match cases, not nested rules")
+			}
+			m.SetExplanation(ctx.NewString(val))
 		case "rule":
 			if m.HasOutput() {
 				p.ReportErrorAtID(keyID, "only the rule or the output may be set")
 			}
+			if m.HasExplanation() {
+				p.ReportErrorAtID(keyID, "explanation can only be set on output match cases, not nested rules")
+			}
 			m.SetRule(p.ParseRule(ctx, policy, val))
 		default:
 			p.visitor.MatchTag(ctx, keyID, fieldName, val, policy, m)
diff --git a/policy/parser_test.go b/policy/parser_test.go
index e520bfc9..063ceeb1 100644
--- a/policy/parser_test.go
+++ b/policy/parser_test.go
@@ -121,6 +121,32 @@ rule:
       output: "world"`,
 			err: `ERROR: <input>:8:7: only the rule or the output may be set
  |       output: "world"
+ | ......^`,
+		},
+		{
+			txt: `
+rule:
+  match:
+    - condition: "true"
+      explanation: "hi"
+      rule:
+        match:
+          - output: "hello"`,
+			err: `ERROR: <input>:6:7: explanation can only be set on output match cases, not nested rules
+ |       rule:
+ | ......^`,
+		},
+		{
+			txt: `
+rule:
+  match:
+    - condition: "true"
+      rule:
+        match:
+          - output: "hello"
+      explanation: "hi"`,
+			err: `ERROR: <input>:8:7: explanation can only be set on output match cases, not nested rules
+ |       explanation: "hi"
  | ......^`,
 		},
 	}
diff --git a/policy/testdata/nested_rule/policy.yaml b/policy/testdata/nested_rule/policy.yaml
index a12cbbd9..1c79cfb3 100644
--- a/policy/testdata/nested_rule/policy.yaml
+++ b/policy/testdata/nested_rule/policy.yaml
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ rule:
               resource.origin in variables.banned_regions &&
               !(resource.origin in variables.permitted_regions)
             output: "{'banned': true}"
+            explanation: "'resource is in the banned region ' + resource.origin"
     - condition: resource.origin in variables.permitted_regions
       output: "{'banned': false}"
     - output: "{'banned': true}"