protestation

a solemn and often public declaration of the truth or existence of something the governor went on television to make a passionate protestation of his innocence in the bribery scandal Synonyms affirmation, assertion, asseveration, avouchment, avowal, claim, declaration, insistence, profession Related Words allegation; announcement, proclamation, pronouncement; argument, justification, rationalization, reason; confirmation, reaffirmation, reconfirmation, vindication Near Antonyms disclaimer; challenge, dispute, question; confutation, disproof, rebuttal, refutation; contradiction, denial, negation Antonyms disavowal