Assert: meaning, definitions and examples

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assert

 

[ əˈsərt ]

Verb / Noun
Context #1 | Verb

programming

To state or express forcefully with confidence and certainty.

Synonyms

affirm, declare, insist.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
assert

Used when someone confidently states a fact or belief without the need for proof. Often in professional, academic, or formal settings.

  • He asserted his innocence in the court
  • During the meeting, she asserted her opinion on the project
declare

Used to make an official, public, or emphatic announcement. Often seen in formal events, government, or legal contexts.

  • The president declared a state of emergency
  • She declared her intentions to run for office
affirm

Used to confirm or state something positively, often in a confident but formal manner. Can be used in legal, official, or supportive contexts.

  • The witness affirmed that he saw the suspect
  • We affirm our commitment to our company values
insist

Used when someone firmly demands or maintains something, often against opposition. Can be seen in both casual and formal situations, sometimes with a negative connotation if perceived as stubbornness.

  • She insisted on paying for the meal
  • Despite the evidence, he still insists that he is correct

Examples of usage

  • I assert that the function will return a boolean value.
  • The developer asserted that the bug was fixed in the latest update.
Context #2 | Verb

legal

To state a fact or belief confidently and forcefully.

Synonyms

allege, claim, maintain.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
assert

Used when you firmly state something as a fact, often when you are sure of its truth. It can be in formal or informal settings.

  • She asserted her innocence during the trial.
  • He asserted that his ideas were the best solution to the problem.
claim

Frequently used in both formal and informal settings to declare something is true, often without providing evidence and it can be questioned by others.

  • She claims she saw a UFO last night.
  • The company claims their product is the best on the market.
maintain

Used when someone continues to believe something and insists on its truth over time, even when others doubt it.

  • He maintains his innocence despite the conviction.
  • She maintained that she had acted correctly throughout the incident.
allege

Used primarily in legal or formal contexts when someone is stating something as a fact without providing proof, often leading to suspicion.

  • The police allege that the suspect was involved in the crime.
  • It was alleged that the politician accepted bribes.

Examples of usage

  • The lawyer asserted that the evidence was inadmissible.
  • The witness asserted that they saw the defendant at the scene of the crime.
Context #3 | Noun

legal

A declaration or statement.

Synonyms

affirmation, declaration, statement.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
assert

Use 'assert' when you want to strongly state something as true, often in the face of doubt or opposition. It often implies a confident or forceful statement.

  • She asserted that she had seen the suspect at the scene of the crime.
  • He asserted his belief that the policy would benefit everyone.
declaration

Use 'declaration' for a formal or official statement. It can be used in both personal and institutional contexts.

  • The president made a declaration of a state of emergency.
  • His declaration of love took her by surprise.
statement

This is a general term for expressing something in speech or writing. It can be used in both casual and formal contexts and doesn't carry the strong connotations of 'assert' or 'declaration'.

  • She gave a statement to the police about the accident.
  • His statement was clear and concise.
affirmation

Use 'affirmation' when you want to confirm or assert something positively. It's often used in motivational or supportive contexts to reinforce belief or confidence.

  • His nod was an affirmation of his agreement.
  • She gave a positive affirmation to their decision.

Examples of usage

  • The assert made by the witness was crucial to the case.
  • The defendant's assert contradicted the prosecution's argument.

Translations

Translations of the word "assert" in other languages:

🇵🇹 afirmar

🇮🇳 दावा करना

🇩🇪 behaupten

🇮🇩 menegaskan

🇺🇦 стверджувати

🇵🇱 twierdzić

🇯🇵 断言する (dangen suru)

🇫🇷 affirmer

🇪🇸 afirmar

🇹🇷 iddia etmek

🇰🇷 단언하다 (daneonhada)

🇸🇦 يؤكد (yu'akkid)

🇨🇿 tvrdit

🇸🇰 tvrdiť

🇨🇳 断言 (duànyán)

🇸🇮 trditi

🇮🇸 staðhæfa

🇰🇿 мәлімдеу

🇬🇪 დამოწმება (damotsmeba)

🇦🇿 iddia etmək

🇲🇽 afirmar

Etymology

The word 'assert' originated from the Latin word 'assertus', which means 'to claim or declare'. The term has been used in English since the 17th century. Over time, 'assert' has evolved to signify a strong and confident declaration of a fact or belief, often used in legal and formal contexts.

See also: asserting, assertion, assertions, assertive, assertively, assertiveness.

Word Frequency Rank

At #5,168 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.