declarative

adjective

de·​clar·​a·​tive di-ˈkler-ə-tiv How to pronounce declarative (audio)
: making a declaration : declaratory
a declarative sentence
declaratively adverb

Examples of declarative in a Sentence

“They went to school” is a declarative sentence.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
What exactly is a Fact Graph? Technically, Fact Graph is a declarative system written in XML and Scala, designed to represent relationships between discrete data points—like income types, deduction criteria, and filing status—in a way that broadly mimics logical reasoning. Andrew Leahey, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025 The bluntly declarative candor of their performances feels at once tweaked with the artifice of frank expressivity yet emotionally hyperreal. Richard Brody, New Yorker, 28 May 2025 Plus, his silhouette in front of his burning plane is just a gorgeous image, one of Nolan’s starkest and most declarative about the toll of war. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 25 Apr. 2025 Out of context, Trump’s executive order on IVF isn’t overly declarative and is rather benign. Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 20 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for declarative

Word History

First Known Use

1628, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of declarative was in 1628

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Declarative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/declarative. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

declarative

adjective
de·​clar·​a·​tive di-ˈklar-ət-iv How to pronounce declarative (audio)
-ˈkler-
: making a declaration or statement
declarative sentence

Medical Definition

declarative

adjective
de·​clar·​a·​tive di-ˈklar-ət-iv, -ˈkler- How to pronounce declarative (audio)
: being or comprising memory characterized by the conscious recall of facts and events compare procedural
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!