declaratory

adjective

de·​clar·​a·​to·​ry di-ˈkler-ə-ˌtȯr-ē 

1

: serving to declare, set forth, or explain

2

a

: declaring what is the existing law

declaratory statute

b

: declaring a legal right or interpretation

a declaratory judgment

Examples of declaratory in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The plaintiffs are seeking a declaratory judgment that the tax exemptions granted to the Amazon Data Services are null and void and that the resolutions passed by the Hobart City Council be declared null and void. —Deborah Laverty, Chicago Tribune, 22 Jan. 2026

The suit seeks declaratory and injunctive relief, asking the court to reinterpret Section 152 to allow dogs to qualify as non-human dependents or, at a minimum, to require the IRS to create criteria for individualized consideration. —Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 23 Dec. 2025

The community's lawyer filed a declaratory judgment against City National Bank of Florida in the Miami-Dade Civil Courts. —Larry Seward, CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025

After initially firing Kelly without cause, LSU later retroactively claimed cause to avoid paying his buyout, according to a declaratory action Kelly filed last month in Louisiana State Court. —Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 1 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for declaratory

• accusatory
• admonitory
• ambulatory
• amendatory
• celebratory
• circulatory
• combinatory
• commendatory
• compensatory
• condemnatory
• confirmatory
• confiscatory

Legal Definition

declaratory

adjective

de·​clar·​a·​to·​ry di-ˈklar-ə-ˌtōr-ē 

: serving to declare, set forth, or explain: as

a

: declaring what is the existing law

b

: declaring a legal right or interpretation

declaratory relief

see also declaratory judgment at judgment sense 1a