Declaration is a formal statement or announcement, often made publicly or legally, asserting a fact, intention, or condition. It can function as a noun describing an act of declaring something, or as the content of that declaration. The term carries connotations of authority and clarity, typically in institutional, legal, or ceremonial contexts.
"The declaration of independence reshaped the nation's future."
"She signed the declaration and submitted it to the court."
"During the meeting, he presented a personal declaration about his role in the project."
"The tax declaration must be filed by April 15th."
Declaration derives from Late Latin declaratio, from declarare meaning to uncover, reveal, or declare. The root debē- partially overlaps with Latin declarare (to declare). The verb form declarare is built on Latin de- (from, out) + clarare (to make clear, to make bright), with an evolving sense of making information explicit. In English, declaration appeared in the 15th century, initially tied to religious or royal proclamations and later broadening to legal and philosophical contexts. By the 17th and 18th centuries, it solidified into a formal act of proclaiming a fact, right, or intention, as seen in legal documents, constitutions, and political statements. The term gained prominence in constitutional law (declarations of rights), international law (declarations of war, peace), and administrative language. Its usage has maintained a formal register, though modern contexts may include software declarations or personal declarations in diaries or testimonials. The evolution reflects a shift from general making clear to a codified, often public, assertion with normative weight.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Declaration" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Declaration"
-ion sounds
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Pronunciation: /ˌdɛkləˈreɪʃən/ (US) or /ˌdɛkləˈreɪʃən/; UK: /ˌdɛkləˈreɪʃən/; AU: /ˌdɛkləˈreɪʃən/. The primary stress is on the third syllable: de-cla-RA-tion. Start with the ‘de’ as /dɛ/ (short e as in “bed”), move to a relaxed ‘kla’ /klə/ with a schwa, then a clear /ˈreɪ/ as in “ray,” and finish with /ʃən/ for “shun.” Audio references: try native speech samples at Pronounce or Forvo for this exact word to feel the rhythm.
Common mistakes include: 1) Incorrect stress: saying de-CLA-ra-tion with stress on the first syllable; correct is de-clə-RA-tion. 2) Slurring the -la- into a full ‘lah’ instead of a schwa; aim for /lə/ (unstressed /lə/). 3) Mispronouncing the final -tion as /tɪən/ or /ʃən/; proper is /ʃən/. To correct: practice gradual syllable separation: /ˌdɛk.ləˈreɪ.ʃən/ and use minimal pairs to feel the rhythm. Record and compare to a native speaker.
In US English you hear the reduced vowel in the second syllable and prominent /ˈreɪ/ as in ‘ray’, with rhoticity affecting the 'r' (though in connected speech r is less emphasized). UK English keeps similar rhythm but may have a slightly crisper /ˈreɪ/ and a less pronounced r in non-rhotic contexts; the final /ən/ remains light and quick. Australian English aligns closely with UK but often flattens vowels slightly; the /ɪ/ in the second syllable tends to be reduced toward /ə/. Always listen to native samples in each variety to feel subtle quality shifts.
The difficulty lies in the multi-syllabic structure with a three-syllable rhythm: de-clə-RA-tion. The combination of a schwa in the second syllable and a strong secondary stress on the third syllable challenges non-native speakers who expect more even syllable stress. The final -tion is pronounced as /ʃən/, which can be tricky for learners who tend to say /tən/ or /ʃən/ inconsistently. Focus on isolating each syllable and mastering the peak on /ˈreɪ/.
Q: Does the 'de-' prefix in declaration ever reduce to /dɪ/ in fast speech? A: In careful or careful-connected speech, you may hear a light /dɪ/ in rapid speech, but standard pronunciation maintains /də/ or /dəˈ/ at the onset. The key is keeping the syllable boundary clear: /ˌdɛk.ləˈreɪ.ʃən/. Focus on not swallowing the /k/ or conflating /klə/ with neighboring vowels.
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