Announced a number have cleared out (8)
I believe the answer is:
declared
'announced' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'a number have cleared out' is the wordplay.
'a number' becomes 'd' (D is an example).
'have' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'out' indicates anagramming the letters (out can mean wrong or inaccurate).
'cleared' with letters rearranged gives 'eclared'.
'd'+'eclared'='DECLARED'
(Other definitions for declared that I've seen before include "Avowed openly" , "Announced publicly" , "Stated emphatically" , "Made clearly known" , "Closed an innings" .)