English Reference
Noun

proclamation

n. countable
C1 Advanced US /ˌpɹɑkɫəˈmeɪʃən/ UK /pɹˌɒklɐmˈeɪʃən/ procla·ma·tion UK spelling proclamation's, proclamation's

n.an official public announcement about something important. It is usually made by a leader or a government to tell everyone about a new law or a big decision.

n.a formal public statement or announcement, especially one regarding a matter of great importance or state policy. Often carries a legal or authoritative weight that distinguishes it from a standard notice.


SIMPLE

The king made a proclamation that the war was over.

CONTEXTUAL

The mayor issued a formal proclamation declaring the first Monday of October as a city-wide holiday.

COMPLEX

Historians often debate the immediate practical impact of the proclamation, noting that while its symbolic power was immense, enforcement remained inconsistent across the distant provinces.

Usage

Often used with the verbs 'issue', 'make', or 'read'.

In this new film, every public proclamation by a foreign leader feels like pitch-rolling for the betrayal we know is coming.

The Guardian· 17 Aug 2026

This is in line with our earlier research that showed proclamations of AI investment don’t consistently boost a company’s share price.

The Conversation· 12 Aug 2026

From Middle English proclamacion, from Anglo-Norman and Old French proclamacion, from Late Latin proclāmātiō, from the verb Latin prōclāmō.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin prōclāmō
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Frequent
Updated