avowal

American  

[uh-vou-uhl] / əˈvaʊ əl /

noun

1. an open statement of affirmation; frank acknowledgment or admission.

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Other Word Forms

• preavowal noun
• reavowal noun

Etymology

Origin of avowal

First recorded in 1720–30; avow + -al ²

Explanation

An avowal is an affirmation of the truth of what you believe. It’s an honest admission. An avowal is a way of owning up to or declaring something. To avow is to acknowledge or claim something. An avowal is an example of this. Saying the Pledge of Allegiance is a type of avowal because you're stating your belief in the United States. Marriage vows are a type of avowal because you affirm your love and loyalty to someone. Prayers that state the existence of God are avowals because you confirm your faith and belief. People only make avowals for things they believe in wholeheartedly.

Example Sentences

I had to make a secondary avowal that I was not getting scammed and would not come back for reimbursement.

From Slate • Aug. 4, 2025

But Mr. Fish says the conference’s avowal of “religious freedom for all” must include atheists in the conversation.

From Washington Times • Jan. 31, 2023

“This is a central plan of this coalition together with the clear avowal that Germany is a country of immigration,” the ministry’s spokesperson said, responding to journalists’ questions about the complaints.

From Reuters • Nov. 28, 2022

But his avowal is less interesting than the fact that he was asked about it at all.

From New York Times • Feb. 2, 2019

He could not, he explained, “without manifest impropriety, make the avowal or disavowal you seem to think necessary.”

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis