What does announcement mean?
An announcement is a statement, usually formal or public, that conveys news or important information to an audience. The word covers everything from a company revealing quarterly results to a couple sharing their engagement, though it leans toward official or organized communication — press briefings, government statements, broadcast notices — rather than casual conversation. Announcements are typically deliberate and prepared in advance, which gives the word a slightly weighty, authoritative tone even when the content is ordinary. It derives from the verb 'announce' and shares its Latin root with words like 'pronounce' and 'denounce,' all built on 'nuntiare,' meaning to report or declare. Common collocations include 'make an announcement,' 'official announcement,' and 'public announcement.' Because announcements mark moments when information becomes public knowledge, the word carries a sense of occasion: whatever follows an announcement tends to be something people are expected to notice, remember, or act upon.
A formal or public statement conveying news or information.
"The airline issued an announcement about the delayed flight."
Often used with verbs like 'make,' 'issue,' or 'release.'
The act of announcing something; the communication of news to an audience.
"The announcement of the winners took place at the ceremony."
Standard plural; used when referring to multiple separate statements or acts of announcing.
"Several announcements were posted on the noticeboard throughout the week."
Every royal birth, moon landing, and product launch in history has shared one thing: an announcement — a word borrowed from Latin that literally means 'to report by messenger.'
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of announcement
Announcement comes from the verb 'announce,' which English adopted from French 'annoncer,' itself drawn from Latin 'annuntiare' (also spelled 'adnuntiare'), meaning to bring news or make a report. The Latin root combines 'ad-' (toward) with 'nuntiare' (to announce), from 'nuntius,' meaning messenger. The noun 'announcement' emerged in English around the early 17th century as the act of announcing came to be treated as a thing in its own right. It shares this lineage with cognates such as 'pronounce,' 'denounce,' and 'enunciate,' all descendants of the same Latin reporting verb.
Related word forms
How announcement is actually used
Neutral in register and usable in both formal and informal contexts, though 'announcement' often carries an air of formality or officialdom, especially when paired with words like 'official' or 'press.' In everyday speech it frequently appears with the verb 'make,' as in 'make an announcement.'
Easily confused with announcement
An announcement conveys information publicly, while a denouncement publicly condemns or criticizes someone or something.