Sentence vs Statement

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Sentence

Top 1,000 (very common) A1 noun

Statement

Top 2,000 (common) A1 noun

Most common: Sentence

	Sentence	Statement
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/ˈsentəns/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈsentəns/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/ˈsteɪtmənt/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈsteɪtmənt/"]/
Meaning	A group of words that express a complete thought.	A clear expression of something in words.
Example	She wrote a beautiful sentence in her essay.	The statement on the wall explained the museum's rules.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level	A1	A1
Part of speech	noun	noun
Collocations	long, short, complete, begin, finish, complete, contain something, have something, structure, maximum, minimum, average, hand down, impose, pass, sentence for, under sentence of death	brief, short, bald, issue, put out, release, condemn, in a/​the statement, statement about, statement on, brief, short, bald, issue, put out, release, condemn, in a/​the statement, statement about, statement on, bank, credit-card, tax, prepare, publish, file
Antonyms	fragment, phrase, word	silence, question
Common mistakes	Using 'sentence' when referring to a single word., Confusing 'sentence' with 'phrase', which is not a complete thought., Saying 'sentences' when referring to the concept in a general way.	'Statement' is often wrongly used as a verb., Confused with 'statements' when referring to multiple examples., Misunderstanding the context; it should not be used for casual opinions.
Usage notes	Use 'sentence' when talking about written or spoken language. It's neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. Avoid using it in technical or specialized discussions about grammar.	Use 'statement' in both spoken and written contexts to convey information or opinions. It is appropriate in formal discussions and reporting but may feel overly formal in casual conversations.

See it in real clips

Suspended the sentence! They went free that very day!

Sentence

I have a sworn statement from you that this man...

The Wire › S1 E1

Two eyewitnesses and a statement.

- any old day of the fuckin' week. - That's a bold statement.

I have a sworn statement from you that this man...

The Wire › S1 E1

Two eyewitnesses and a statement.

Statement

Frequently asked questions: Sentence vs Statement

What's the difference between Sentence and Statement?

Sentence: A group of words that express a complete thought. Statement: A clear expression of something in words.

Which is more common: Sentence and Statement?

Sentence is the most common in everyday English.

Are Sentence and Statement the same CEFR level?

Sentence: A1, Statement: A1 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Sentence and Statement?

Sentence: noun, Statement: noun.

Can you show an example of each?

Sentence: She wrote a beautiful sentence in her essay. Statement: The statement on the wall explained the museum's rules.

Can I use Sentence and Statement interchangeably?

Not always. Sentence and Statement are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.