communiqués

A communiqué is a formal statement issued by an organization, government, or other entity to announce information, state a position, or disclose decisions to the public or a designated audience. The term comes from French, from communiquer “to communicate.” In English, the singular is “communiqué” and the plural can be “communiqués” or “communiques.”

In diplomacy and international relations, a communiqué records the outcomes of a meeting, negotiation, or summit. It is intended to be concise, formal, and authoritative, often listing agreed principles, next steps, dates, and the positions of the parties. Beyond diplomacy, communiqués are used by governments, corporations, military organizations, and NGOs to convey official messages.

A typical communiqué identifies the issuer and the date, presents the purpose, outlines key points or decisions, and may include brief quotes or references to further information. Some communiqués are intended for archival purposes, while others are distributed to media or stakeholders.

Communiqués differ from press releases in audience and intent: communiqués emphasize official positions or agreements, whereas press releases promote news or actions to the media and public. Nevertheless, both forms aim to present a controlled, formal statement from an authority.

See also: press release, official statement, diplomatic note.