Style clashes, we're told (6)
I believe the answer is:
phrase
'style' is the definition.
(both can mean to term something in a certain way)
'clashes we're told' is the wordplay.
'clashes' becomes 'frays'.
'we're told' indicates a 'sounds like' (homophone) clue.
'frays' sounds like 'PHRASE'.
(Other definitions for phrase that I've seen before include "Short, coherent group of words" , "Short expression" , "Group of words/notes" , "Has rep part of a sentence?" , "Sherpa (anag)" .)