Dictionary

disclaim en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /dɪsˈkleɪm/
• (UK) audio

Etymology

From Middle English disclaimen, from Anglo-Norman disclaimer, from Old French desclamer (French déclamer), des- + clamer.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To completely renounce claims to; to deny ownership of or responsibility for
   • He disclaims the authority of Jesus. 1755, Hugh Farmer, Essay on the Demoniacs of the New Testament:
   • He calls the Gods to witness their offence, / Disclaims the War, asserts his Innocence. 1697, Virgil, “The Seventh Book of the Æneis”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 424, lines 817–818:
   • That her followers explicitly disclaim knowledge of 1954–55 also suggests that none of her earlier believers remained with her. 2025 November 4, Thomas Kelly, “Debunking “When Prophecy Fails””, in Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences, volume 62, number 1, →DOI, →ISSN, page 11:
   • By heavens if ever you do it again. If ever you dare to show yourself in my house; or give my name at a gambling-house or at any other house, by Jove—at any other house—or give any reference at all to me, or speak to me in the street, by Gad, or any where else until I speak to you—I disclaim you altogether—I won’t give you another shilling. 1848 November – 1850 December, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter V, in The History of Pendennis. […], volume II, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1850, →OCLC, page 49:
   • "I was to say that Maw and Meggins disclaim all responsibility," continued the other. "They admit no liability at all, but in consideration of your son's services they wish to present you with a certain sum as compensation." 1901, W. W. Jacobs, The Monkey's Paw:
2. (transitive) To deny (e.g. claim); to refuse.
   • The payment was irregularly made, if not disclaimed. 1855, Henry Hart Milman, History of Latin Christianity:
3. (intransitive, transitive) (law) To relinquish or deny having a claim; to disavow another's claim; to decline accepting, as an estate, interest, or office.
4. (intransitive, transitive) To make a caveat or admission.
   • I have to disclaim conflicts of interest. I am a licensed securities person in the United States and that means that there are some things that I cannot do. 2017 July 28, Rick Rule, “1000% Gains: A Spectator's Guide to Private Placements with Rick Rule”, in Cambridge House:
   • I disclaim that there will be a lot of inside humor. If you don't read a.r.s often, or are a newbie, you won't get some of the gags. 2000 December 4, Michael Reuss, “Clambytes 2000 ”, in alt.religion.scientology (Usenet):
   • I should disclaim that I'm not sure I've actually tried this with the more recent models. 2025 December 21, @MaskedTorah, X:

Forms

Deriveds

disclaimer · undisclaimed

Synonyms

disavow · reject · renounce · disavow (renounce all claim to) · repudiate · refuse (deny as a claim) · disown · disown

Translations (6)

bg отказвам се от (renounce all claim to) · eo malpretendi (renounce all claim to) · mi whakakape (deny as a claim; refuse) · cs dementovat (deny as a claim; refuse) · sv frånsäga sig (renounce all claim to) · mi kape (deny as a claim; refuse)