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statement

B1
UK/ˈsteɪtmənt/US/ˈsteɪtmənt/

Formal to neutral

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Definition

Meaning

A clear expression of something in speech or writing; an official account of facts or opinions.

A formal record of financial activity; a piece of evidence or testimony; a computer command that performs an action.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

Can refer to both verbal/written declarations and official documents (e.g., bank statements). In computing, it's a syntactic unit.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

Minimal. 'Statement' is used identically in core meanings. In legal contexts, 'taking a statement' is more common in UK police procedure, while US may use 'giving a deposition' for formal testimony.

Connotations

In UK political discourse, 'ministerial statement' is a formal parliamentary event. In US, 'mission statement' is more corporate.

Frequency

Slightly higher frequency in UK legal/parliamentary contexts; slightly higher in US financial/business contexts.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
make a statementissue a statementofficial statementbank statementwritten statementpublic statementfinancial statementpolicy statement
medium
clear statementjoint statementpersonal statementmission statementsworn statementopening statementimpact statement
weak
bold statementsimple statementdirect statementbrief statementformal statement

Grammar

Valency Patterns

issue + statement + on/aboutmake + statement + tostatement + that + clausestatement + from + source

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Strong

proclamationpronouncementtestimonyaffidavit

Neutral

declarationannouncementaccountreport

Weak

commentremarkutteranceassertion

Vocabulary

Antonyms

questionqueryretractiondenial

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • “make a fashion statement”
  • “a statement of intent”
  • “let your actions make the statement”

Usage

Context Usage

Business

Refers to official documents like profit/loss statements or corporate announcements.

Academic

Used for thesis statements, arguments, or propositions in logic.

Everyday

Commonly refers to bank statements or personal opinions expressed clearly.

Technical

In programming, a line of code that performs an action (e.g., an if statement).

Examples

By Part of Speech

verb

British English

  • The witness will statement his account to the police.
  • The company is required to statement its earnings quarterly.

American English

  • The attorney will statement the defendant's alibi.
  • The CFO must statement the financial results.

adverb

British English

  • He spoke statemently, leaving no room for doubt.
  • The document was written very statemently.

American English

  • She answered statemently, with clear conviction.
  • The declaration was phrased quite statemently.

adjective

British English

  • She wore a statement necklace to the event.
  • The policy document was very statement in its tone.

American English

  • He made a statement piece with his art collection.
  • The report was more statement than analysis.

Examples

By CEFR Level

A2
  • I read my bank statement every month.
  • She made a statement about her favourite colour.
B1
  • The government issued a statement about the new law.
  • Please check your credit card statement for errors.
B2
  • His statement during the interview clarified his position on the issue.
  • The annual financial statement showed a profit increase.
C1
  • The defendant's sworn statement was entered as evidence.
  • A well-crafted thesis statement is crucial for academic writing.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think: STATE your MENTal position → a STATEMENT.

Conceptual Metaphor

IDEAS ARE OBJECTS TO BE PRESENTED (He issued a statement); TRUTH IS A SOLID STRUCTURE (The statement stands firm).

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

  • Avoid translating as 'заявление' for all contexts—use 'отчёт' for financial statements, 'утверждение' for logical propositions.
  • Don't confuse with 'state' as in condition; statement is about communication.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'statement' for informal chat (too formal).
  • Confusing 'statement' with 'invoice' (statement summarizes, invoice requests payment).
  • In computing: 'statement' vs. 'expression'—statements perform actions, expressions produce values.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
After the scandal, the CEO had to to the press.
Multiple Choice

In which context is 'statement' LEAST appropriate?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

A statement is typically a concise declaration of facts or opinions, often official. A report is more detailed, analytical, and structured, providing information and often conclusions.

Yes, but it's rare and formal, meaning 'to state or declare officially', primarily used in legal or bureaucratic contexts.

Yes, identically. It refers to a periodic summary of account transactions.

A formal summary of the aims and values of a company, organization, or individual.

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Related Words

accountaffidavitallegationannouncementassurancechargecommentdescriptionexplanationpresentationproclamationremarkreporttestimonyword