declarative

[ dih-klar-uh-tiv ]

adjective

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

   a declarative statement.

declarative

/ dɪˈklærətɪv /

adjective

1. making or having the nature of a declaration

Derived Forms

• deˈclaratively, adverb

Other Words From

• de·clara·tive·ly adverb
• nonde·clara·tive adjective
• nonde·clara·tive·ly adverb
• nonde·clara·tory adjective
• unde·clara·tive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of declarative¹

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

Example Sentences

You want to be declarative and quantitative, because software is trying to figure out who you are to decide whether you will be put in front of a human.

From MIT Technology Review

The agency wants to be certain, so it typically waits for a critical mass of scientific evidence before making declarative statements.

From FiveThirtyEight

As with the lab leak theory, you can lay blame with Fauci’s initial commentary being overly declarative.

From Washington Post

Pattern separation is principally used by the brain to convert rich representations into distinguishable declarative memories.

From Nautilus

Cross-examination is to ask questions, not to make declarative statements to test the story told on direct examination.

From The Daily Beast

Just the subliminal nature of being on stage and making a declarative statement rather than a passive one.

From The Daily Beast

But with just seven months left in his term, Bernanke has made few declarative pronouncements about his future.

From The Daily Beast

The danger is that with Miral, the declarative seems to have taken over.

From The Daily Beast

The project is at once boldly declarative and brilliantly porous to a place locked in flux.

From The Daily Beast

It would not be simply declarative of corporeal existence, but of existence in a particular state or condition.

From Project Gutenberg

All Oliver has been able to realize for the last two hours is the mere declarative fact that she is there.

From Project Gutenberg

It is the result of kindled emotion, and expresses in exclamatory form what would usually be stated in declarative form.

From Project Gutenberg

Each reason given in support of the issues and each subreason should be no more than a simple, complete, declarative sentence.

From Project Gutenberg

The topic must be given some definite expression in a declarative sentence before any real argument is possible.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• analytical
• informative
• interpretive
• supplementary

More About Declarative

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.

Where does declarative come from?

The first records of declarative come from around 1530. It comes from the Latin dēclārātīvus, which means “explanatory.” Declarative things offer explanations and share information.

Declarative speeches, statements, or announcements are taken very seriously and are assumed to be the deliverer’s true feelings, beliefs, or opinions. For this reason, powerful people will often shy away from making declarative announcements in case they change their minds or are later proven wrong.

In computer science, declarative programming is a style of programming that states what the program should do but not how it should do it.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to declarative?

• declaratively (adverb)
• nondeclarative (adjective)
• nondeclaratively (adverb)
• nondeclaratory (adjective)

What are some synonyms for declarative?

• explanatory
• informative
• analytical
• supplementary
• decalatory

What are some words that share a root or word element with declarative?

• declare
• declaration
• declaratory

What are some words that often get used in discussing declarative?

• sentence
• statement
• announcement
• official
• clarification
• programming

How is declarative used in real life?

People make bold, declarative statements every day.

What i love most is all my fellow geminis responding to this with a declarative "No. Shan't." https://t.co/u7KXbTTQcI

— Summer vs Selfies (@summervselfies) March 11, 2021

Tell them to switch or to turn it off. Simple declarative..

— Jack Hutton 🇺🇸 (@jackhutton) March 11, 2021

The Editors Wrote a Declarative Sentence. Then They Wrote an Ominous Addendum. pic.twitter.com/dqi8NH6Suf

— David A. Graham (@GrahamDavidA) March 9, 2021

Try using declarative!

Is declarative used correctly in the following sentence?

The rebel leader made a declarative speech, demanding the release of prisoners.