Vindicated when the cheque was declared valid (7)

I believe the answer is:

cleared

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'vindicated' is the definition.
(I know that vindicated can be written as cleared)

I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.

(Other definitions for cleared that I've seen before include "found not guilty" , "Profited by" , "Exonerated" , "Brightened up" , "Jumped over" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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