Proclamatory

Proclamatory is an adjective meaning relating to or constituting a proclamation; it is used to describe statements, acts, or documents that publicly declare or announce something, often in an official or emphatic manner.

Etymology: The word derives from the verb proclaim, which in turn comes from Latin proclamare “to cry out publicly” and Old French proclamer. The English suffix -atory attaches to the root to yield “proclamatory,” indicating that something serves to proclaim.

Usage: In law or government, a proclamatory declaration or proclamation asserts policy, status, or authority. In rhetoric and writing, proclamatory language is deliberately declarative and emphatic, aiming to announce a principle, stance, or event. The term can describe ceremonial or formal declarations such as royal proclamations, national independence days, or public policy statements.

Related terms: Proclamatory is closely related to proclamative; both describe acts of proclamation, but usage varies by author. The noun form is proclamation; related verbs include proclaim, the latter used for the act of declaring, and the adjective proclamatory or proclamative to describe the declarative quality.