Declare: Saying Something Officially
To declare is to state something formally or publicly. Customs, cricket, card games and tax returns all use the word, and in each the statement carries consequences.
Declare means to state formally, in a way that binds you. That is what separates it from *say*: a declaration is on the record. Failing to declare goods at customs is an offence, while failing to mention them in conversation is not.
- To state formally. *She declared her interest in the contract.*
- To announce officially. *The result was declared at midnight.*
- To report goods or income. *Nothing to declare.*
- To end an innings (cricket). *England declared on 420.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | declare | Declare the results. |
| Noun | declaration | A declaration of intent. |
| Adjective | declared | A declared candidate. |
| Adjective | undeclared | Undeclared earnings. |
| Noun | declarative | A declarative sentence. |
How it is used in a sentence
- Do you have anything to declare?The customs question, and the origin of the green and red channels.
- He declared himself unfit to continue.Declare oneself something.
- The captain declared before lunch.Cricket — ending an innings voluntarily to press for a win.
Famous declarations
- Declaration of Independence — 1776, United States
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights — 1948, United Nations
- Declaration of war — a formal statement, now rarely issued despite frequent conflict
- Declaration of interest — a statement that you have something to gain
- Customs declaration — a legal statement of what you are carrying
From Latin *declarare*, to make clear, from *de* and *clarus*, clear — the same root as clarity and clarify. To declare something is, literally, to make it clear.
Declare or announce?
Announce simply makes something known. Declare implies formality and often legal or official weight.
Why would a cricket captain declare?
To leave enough time to bowl the other side out. Batting on could make a win impossible before the match runs out of time.