declarative

American  

[dih-klar-uh-tiv] / dɪˈklær ə tɪv /

Also declaratory

adjective

1. serving to declare, make known, or explain.

   a declarative statement.

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declarative British  

/ dɪˈklærətɪv /

adjective

1. making or having the nature of a declaration

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Usage

What does declarative mean? Declarative describes something that makes information known, offers an explicit explanation, or describes something that makes an official statement, as in The prime minister gave a declarative speech on her opposition to the war.If someone is giving a declarative statement, then they are clearly and firmly stating something, as in The mayor’s declarative report detailed her plans to decrease pollution.In English grammar, a declarative sentence is used to state facts, opinions, or other information, as this sentence does.Another word for declarative is declaratory, which is often used in law and legal documentation.Example: When Ming started skipping practices, the coach saw it as a declarative statement that Ming was done with the team.

Other Word Forms

• declaratively adverb
• nondeclarative adjective
• nondeclaratively adverb
• nondeclaratory adjective
• undeclarative adjective

Etymology

Origin of declarative

1530–40; < Latin dēclārātīvus explanatory, equivalent to dēclārāt ( us ) ( declaration ) + -īvus -ive

Related Words

• analytical
• informative
• interpretive
• supplementary