proclamation

noun

proc·​la·​ma·​tion ˌprä-klə-ˈmā-shən 

1

: the action of proclaiming : the state of being proclaimed

2

: something proclaimed

specifically : an official formal public announcement

Examples of proclamation in a Sentence

the proclamation of martial law

The President issued a proclamation which freed the slaves.

Recent Examples on the Web

State buildings in Missouri will have their flags at half-staff, following the proclamation of Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe. —Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 11 Sep. 2025

When the proclamation expires, flags return to full-staff at sunrise the next day. —Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Sep. 2025

The day after Trump signed his proclamation, a federal judge in Washington issued a temporary restraining order that blocked deportation flights from leaving the country under the new policy. —Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025

In 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed a proclamation to recognize the first National Grandparents Day. —Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 7 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English proclamacion, from Anglo-French, from Latin proclamation-, proclamatio, from proclamare

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for proclamation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

proclamation

noun

proc·​la·​ma·​tion ˌpräk-lə-ˈmā-shən 

1

: the act of proclaiming

2

: something proclaimed

Legal Definition

proclamation

noun

proc·​la·​ma·​tion ˌprä-klə-ˈmā-shən 

1

: the act of proclaiming

2

: something proclaimed

specifically : an official formal public announcement (as a public notice, edict, or decree) compare declaration, executive order