The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word BANNS
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
B
A
N
N
S
More clues leading to the result BANNS
- Crazy, omitting two separate articles in church announcement
- Public declaration has display of flags, no hesitation
- Forbid these to stop partners wishing to make contract
- Woman embraced by doctor making proclamation
- Union notices exclude Poles
- American nonsense about Manning regularly exposed in union declaration
- Compulsory premarital reading matter that may be objected to
- Pre-match announcement?
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Public declaration" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case public declaration = banns.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does BANNS mean?
BANNS noun- The announcement of a forthcoming marriage (legally required for a church wedding in England and Wales and read on the three Sundays preceding the marriage).
- Historically, any public announcement of a coming event.