declaration

noun

dec·​la·​ra·​tion ˌde-klə-ˈrā-shən 

1

: the act of declaring : announcement

2

a

: the first pleading in a common-law action

b

: a statement made by a party to a legal transaction usually not under oath

3

a

: something that is declared

a declaration of love

b

: a document containing such a declaration

Synonyms

• affirmation
• assertion
• asseveration
• avouchment
• avowal
• claim
• insistence
• profession
• protestation

Examples of declaration in a Sentence

The government has made a declaration of war on its enemies.

The case was ended by declaration of a mistrial.

You will need to make a declaration of your income.

Recent Examples on the Web

In 2021, Abbott’s disaster declaration automatically suspended laws governing how the state spent money on Operation Lone Star. —Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025

Seoul, South Korea CNN — South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol, who lawmakers voted to impeach over his declaration of martial law, has been freed from detention after prosecutors decided not to appeal a court decision canceling his arrest. —Yoonjung Seo, CNN, 8 Mar. 2025

Dawn Ewing, a close family friend, shared a memory of a six-year-old Bjorklund chiming in from the backseat during a road trip with a declaration of faith. —Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 7 Mar. 2025

President Trump entered office with bold declarations. —Justin Worland, TIME, 7 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for declaration

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

declaration

noun

dec·​la·​ra·​tion ˌdek-lə-ˈrā-shən 

1

: the act of declaring : announcement

2

: something declared or a document containing such a declaration

the Declaration of Independence

Legal Definition

declaration

noun

dec·​la·​ra·​tion

1

: the act of declaring

declaration of dividends

declaration of war

2

a

: the first pleading in a common-law action compare complaint, indictment

b

: a statement usually not under oath made by a party to a legal transaction

the attorney must later sign an affidavit or declaration stating that he has informed the debtor

—J. H. Williamson

c

: a statement not under oath being offered as evidence

— declaration against interest

: a statement made by someone unavailable as a witness that is against that person's own interests (as pecuniary or property interests) or may subject that person to liability compare admission, confession, self-incrimination

Note: A declaration against interest is an exception to the hearsay rule. If it is offered in a criminal case and tends to expose the declarant to criminal liability it is not admissible unless supported by corroborating circumstances that clearly indicate the trustworthiness of the statement.

— dying declaration

: a statement that is made by a person who firmly believes that he or she is about to die and has no hope of recovery and that concerns the circumstances or cause of the presumed death compare excited utterance, res gestae

Note: Dying declarations are an exception to the hearsay rule and can be admitted as evidence only if the declarant is unavailable as a witness.

— self-serving declaration

: a statement made out of court that is in the declarant's own interest

— spontaneous declaration \ spän-​ˈtā-​nē-​əs-​ \

: an excited utterance that is made without time for fabrication

called also spontaneous exclamation, spontaneous utterance

compare res gestae

Note: Spontaneous declarations are exceptions to the hearsay rule under the excited utterance exception.

3

: something that is declared: as

a

: a statement proclaiming the principles, aims, or policies of a group or government

declaration of rights

compare constitution, proclamation

b

: a statement of the value of property that is subject to a tax (as a duty)

also : a statement of the amount of tax estimated to be due (as on property or income) see also estimated tax compare return

c

: a statement of information (as year, make, and model) regarding the subject (as a car) and coverage of an insurance policy

4

: a statement creating or giving notice of the creation of a legal entity, relationship, or status

also : the instrument embodying such a statement

— declaration of condominium

: a declaration of the creation of a condominium that includes a description of the common and individual interests and obligations compare master deed at deed

— declaration of homestead

: a declaration by a qualified property owner by which the protection of a homestead exemption is effectuated

— declaration of trust

: a declaration by one holding or taking title to property in which he or she acknowledges that the property is held in trust for another

5

: declaratory judgment at judgment 1a