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performance
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performative

per·form·a·tive [ pər fáwrmətiv ]


adjective 
Definition:
 
performing speech act: describes speech that constitutes an act of some kind, e.g. the phrase "I promise I'll do my best," which constitutes a promise in itself



noun  (plural per·form·a·tives)
Definition:
 
speech that constitutes act: a performative utterance

[Mid-20th century. After declarative]

per·form·a·tive·ly adverb
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