What does stated mean?
Stated means said, written, or formally declared, and it commonly describes information that has already been expressed. People use it in official notices, contracts, reports, academic writing, and news to identify what someone has claimed without repeating the claim itself: “The conditions were stated in the agreement.” In the phrase “as stated,” it signals that the information comes from an earlier or authoritative source. As a verb, stated is the past tense and past participle of state, as in “the witness stated that she had seen the incident.” The adjective often has a formal or legal tone, but it can also occur naturally in everyday speech when the purpose is to emphasize that something was said or written. It should not be used to imply that a claim is true; it describes the status of the claim rather than its accuracy.
Said, written, or formally declared; expressed in specified terms.
"The notice gave a stated reason for the closure."
Common in formal, legal, academic, and administrative contexts.
The past tense and past participle of state, meaning to say or declare.
"The witness stated that the document was incomplete."
Often used to report a claim without directly emphasizing who made it.
The word state began with the idea of something standing firmly: its original meaning was a condition of standing or stability.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does stated come from?
Stated was formed in English by adding the suffix -ed to state. State came through Anglo-Norman French from Latin stare, “to stand,” and originally referred to a condition of standing or stability before developing its present range of meanings. Related English words include status, station, statute, and static, all of which reflect the same Latin root.
Related word forms
How stated is actually used
Stated is formal and neutral. It is especially common in official, legal, and academic contexts, including the fixed phrase “as stated.” As a verb form, it normally reports information already expressed rather than introducing an argument or detailed account.
Easily confused with stated
Stated describes something that has been said or formally declared, whereas state can mean to say something, to describe a condition, or to put forward a case.