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 ) ( see declaration) + -īvus -ive

Explanation

A declarative sentence states a fact. This word can be used to describe any action or speech that makes a statement. "I love the Red Sox!" is a declarative sentence — you're claiming or asserting something. Declarative sentences are the opposite of questions. Known as a "mood" in the grammar world, you can also use declarative to describe other things that make a definite statement. A strongly worded political sign could be declarative. A tone of voice could be confident and declarative. Even a bold outfit could be declarative of your unique style.

Example Sentences

The audience seem to know every word - with the whole room reverberating to the declarative, "I don't need a boyfriend", that crops up in the second verse of Nice To Each Other.

From BBC • Feb. 27, 2026

Broadly painted still lifes from the 1930s, with apples and pears transformed into flat, declarative shapes, have the physical presence of “The Lace Shawl,” with a very different mood and affect.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 3, 2026

He further argued that concept cells were fundamental components, or building blocks, of declarative memory.

From Salon • Mar. 25, 2025

“I was as much interested in why these movies are the way they are as I was in saying anything declarative about whether they’re good or bad or they’re killing cinema,” Brown says.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 25, 2024

The instinct passed through me in the form of a word, a bold lyric, strong, declarative.

From "Educated" by Tara Westover

Related Words

• analytical
• informative
• interpretive
• supplementary