proclamation

noun

proc·​la·​ma·​tion ˌprä-klə-ˈmā-shən How to pronounce proclamation (audio)
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
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.
Vance’s trip also comes as the Trump administration is considering the use of the Alien Enemy Act of 1798 to detain and deport Venezuelans based on a proclamation labeling the gang Tren de Aragua an invasion force that could be acting at the behest of that country’s government. Will Weissert and Valerie Gonzalez, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2025 Sarah Min 18 Hours Ago Mexico’s next move is unclear Luis Cortes | Reuters While Canada and China have already announced retaliatory tariffs, Mexico has not made a similar proclamation as of Tuesday morning. Yun Li, CNBC, 4 Mar. 2025 Mayor George Van Dusen read the proclamation at the Feb. 18 Village Board meeting. Richard Requena, Chicago Tribune, 1 Mar. 2025 However, Trump issued a proclamation that shrank Utah’s Bears Ears National Monument by 85% and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument by 50% anyway. Ryan Gellert, TIME, 25 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for proclamation

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of proclamation was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Proclamation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proclamation. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

proclamation

noun
proc·​la·​ma·​tion ˌpräk-lə-ˈmā-shən How to pronounce proclamation (audio)
1
: the act of proclaiming
2
: something proclaimed

Legal Definition

proclamation

noun
proc·​la·​ma·​tion ˌprä-klə-ˈmā-shən How to pronounce proclamation (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on proclamation

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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