English Reference

Word

statement

Phoneticsstate·ment, stress on the first syllable

US/ˈsteɪtmənt/

UK/stˈeɪtmənt/

Definitions

01a formal declaration

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. something that you say or write in a formal way to give information or an opinion.

n. a formal communication or declaration in speech or writing, often issued to the public or a court.

“The company issued a statement to explain why the shop was closing.”

“The prime minister's official statement was carefully drafted to address public concerns without committing the government to immediate spending increases.”

Usage

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

Antonyms

02financial record

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Finance

n. a printed or electronic record of how much money you have in your bank account.

n. a document, typically issued monthly, that summarises all financial transactions within a specific period.

“I check my bank statement every month to see how much I spent on coffee.”

“The auditor requested a full set of year-end statements to reconcile the discrepancies found in the company's ledger.”

Usage

Usually refers to a 'bank statement'.

Synonyms

reportaccount summary

03programming instruction

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Computing Technical

n. a single instruction in a computer program.

n. a syntactic unit of a programming language that expresses some action to be carried out.

“The program stopped because there was an error in the print statement.”

“The developer refactored the code to replace the nested if-statements with a more efficient switch-case structure.”

Usage

Distinguished from an 'expression' in many languages because a statement performs an action but does not return a value.

04bold or noticeable

B2 · Upper Intermediate

adj. used to describe something, like a piece of clothing or furniture, that is very noticeable and shows your style.

adj. serving to express a bold aesthetic or stylistic choice; typically used as an attributive adjective.

“She wore a statement necklace that everyone noticed as soon as she walked in.”

“The architect chose a statement staircase for the lobby, intended to serve as the building's primary visual focal point.”

Usage

Almost always appears before the noun it describes, such as 'statement piece' or 'statement necklace'.

Antonyms

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “statement” in context.

01. statement issued 02. statement released 03. statement added 04. statement read 05. following statement 06. general statement 07. include statement 08. negative statement 09. statement condemning 10. statement announcing 11. statement following 12. statements about his career

Real-World Examples

“The February 2023 statement said the club was surprised by the alleged breaches, "particularly given the extensive engagement and vast amount of detailed materials that the EPL (English Premier League) has been provided with.”
Reuters 26 Sept 2026
“Starbucks denied wrongdoing and said in a ​statement it would focus "on offering great jobs and career opportunities to ​our partners who wear the green apron.”
Reuters 17 Sept 2026
“Several more countries on Friday joined leading European nations, Japan and Canada in signing a joint statement, saying they were ready to join appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz and would take steps to stabilise energy markets.”
Reuters 20 Mar 2026
“In a statement to the Guardian, Loro Piana said the supplier had not informed the company of the existence of subcontractors.”
The Guardian 25 Jul 2025

Etymology

From state + -ment.

Back-formation from statementing or back-formation from statemented.

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

Word family

NOUN

statement(A1)

Related words

Idioms

Domains

ComputingFinance

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
Frequency
Very common
Level
A1 · BeginnerOxford
Updated

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English Reference